THE TERMINUS OF THE RAILWAY 
The country was absolutely flat until we reached 
Sicupira (elevation 3,100 feet above the sea level), where 
we began to descend to the Rio Uberabinha, whose de¬ 
lightfully clear, crystalline water wound its way through 
scrub. 
At Uberabinha we again came across the wonderful 
red earth of the Riberao Preto district. Situated at an 
elevation of 3,050 feet stood the little town of some 4,000 
inhabitants, about 500 yards from the comfortable and 
pretty station. Although the land was beautiful, cultiva¬ 
tion could not be said to, be prevalent. Merely some rice, 
beans, and Indian corn were grown in small quantities. 
From Uberabinha the railway line descended all the 
time through a thinly wooded country of shrubs and 
stunted trees; the verdant prairies, so refreshing to the 
eyes, were left behind, and the country became more 
broken, though the land was still excellent for agricultural 
purposes. After crossing a well-constructed iron bridge 
resting on two masonry pillars and spanning the pic¬ 
turesque rapids of the Rio das Velhas—the river, with 
its turbid, muddy, nasty-looking water, being there some 
80 yards wide, at an elevation of 2,050 feet above the sea 
level — we again began a steep ascent by a gradient of 
over three per cent, following most of the time the river 
course. The thickly wooded banks obstructed a good deal 
of the view except here and there, where charming 
glimpses of the water could be obtained. 
Seven hundred and eighty-nine kilometres from 
Campinas, or 982 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean at 
Santos, we arrived at the terminal station of the Mogyana 
Railway at a place called Araguary, 3,150 feet above the 
sea level, one of the dirtiest and most unpleasant spots on 
the face of the earth. The termini of railway lines in 
newly developed countries seem to act like niters. What¬ 
ever is good passes through; only the impurities or dregs 
remain. 
45 
