ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
ria, Jocare (on the San Francisco River), and Carrinhan 
(on the Carinhaha River, a tributary of the San 
Francisco), and eventually by water to the Atlantic 
Ocean; the third trail proceeded due east — across the 
San Francisco River to Montes Claros and Grao Mogol; 
a fourth, in a southeasterly direction, led to Curvelho and 
Sta. Lucia, where it met the railway to Rio de Janeiro. 
Another route proceeded south to Sta. Rita do Paraiso. 
The price of land, which was excellent in the valley of 
the river, in the vicinity of Uberaba was from 30 to 150 
milreis per alqueire. 
After leaving Uberaba the scenery was magnificent, 
especially when a storm approached as we were steaming 
over the Serra de Caracol. Dense black clouds collected 
and capped the dark green forest of the Serra, while down, 
down below, on our right, the endless, gently undulating 
plain of fresh green grass was brilliantly illuminated by a 
warm, dazzling sun. Most beautiful grazing land, prac¬ 
tically going to waste now, we crossed on reaching the 
highest point of the Serra; grass, grass, as far as the 
eye could see — quite flat land — but not a head of cattle 
in sight; in fact, there was no sign of animal life, and a 
stillness of death, except for the puffing of the railway 
engine on which I sat. Water, however, did not seem to 
abound; we could see only a small stream, near which 
curious-looking patches, or bosquets of trees, lay in dark 
spots on that light green expanse. We were then at an 
elevation of 3,400 feet amid delightfully cool and crisp air. 
At Burity we passed the great route of the cattle 
dealers from Goyaz and Matto Grosso for Sta. Rita, 
Passes, and Tres Cora^es do Rio Verde. At Palestina 
(845 kilometres from the sea) we were on what seemed 
an interminable, flat plateau with ideally green grass, and 
here and there patches of stunted vegetation. Land could 
be purchased there as low as 10 milreis an alqueire, 
although the best land cost from 50 to 300 milreis. 
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