GLORIOUS LANDSCAPE 
the highest point of the sky’s vault, were that night white 
on the west, with corresponding ones of brilliant cobalt 
blue to the east. 
A drizzling rain rendered the night cold and damp, 
although the Fahrenheit thermometer registered a mini¬ 
mum temperature of 70°. 
On leaving Santo Antonio, the trail ascended to a 
height of 3,100 feet (4% kilometres from the village), and 
we were then in a rich forest region, where the acaju — 
of the Terebinthacece family — was plentiful, with its 
huge leaves and contorted branches. The acaju produced 
a refreshing fruit, either of a bright red or else of a yellow 
colour, not unlike a large pepper, outside of which was 
strongly attached a seed possessing highly caustic quali¬ 
ties. Many gordinha trees were also to be seen. It was 
interesting to see how those zones of forest were suddenly 
succeeded by beautiful and vast areas of grazing land, 
such as we found that day. We crossed three streams 
at the respective elevations of 2,550 feet, 2,650 feet, and 
2,750 feet, after which we reached an elevation of 3,000 
feet, the highest we had so far attained on our route 
from the coast, where we found ourselves on a grassy 
tableland of considerable beauty. Looking back to the 
south-southeast, we perceived the two hill ranges, one 
behind the other, which we had crossed. Between them 
and us were marvellous slopes covered with green grass, 
but not in the lower portion, where bordering the stream 
was luxuriant forest. This was noticeable also on a hill 
to the west, forming a minor tableland with rounded 
sides. 
To the north-northeast was a perfectly flat plateau. 
The distance rendered it of a deep blue, and its level 
sky-line gave the appearance of the horizon upon the 
ocean, except that two small peaks stood up slightly above 
the elevation of the plateau. On all that beautiful land 
only two small miserable farms were to be seen. Yet it 
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