ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS 
again, the mayor of the place offered me his arm, and 
followed in a most respectful manner by the others, we 
adjourned to the schoolroom, where the feast was spread 
upon the table. 
More speeches when we entered the room, more 
speeches before we sat down, speeches in the middle of 
dinner, speeches after dinner. Unaware of what was 
coming, I had exhausted all the compliments I could think 
of in my first speech, and I had to tax my poor brain 
considerably to reply with grace — especially as I had to 
speak in Portuguese—to the many charming things 
which my thoughtful hosts said. The banquet went 
off well. It is difficult to imagine more consider- 
rate, kindly people than those exiles in that far-away 
spot. 
I took careful and repeated astronomical observations 
for latitude and longitude in order to establish the exact 
position of that settlement. Latitude 14° 21 . 7 ' south; 
longitude 56° 56' west. I purchased all the food I could 
possibly collect —- enough to last us some six months, 
which cost me a small fortune — as I intended to push out 
of the place and proceed northward at once. 
Four of my men became badly intoxicated upon our 
arrival. There was another mutiny. They again claimed 
their pay up to date and wished to leave me. At once 
they received their money. It was such a relief to me 
when they went off, even for a few hours, that I was 
always glad to give them the money and have a short 
mental rest while they kept away. Unfortunately it was 
impossible to obtain a single extra man in Diamantino. 
Labour was scarce, and the few labourers in existence were 
in absolute slavery. Indeed, slavery existed — it exists 
to-day — in all Central Brazil, just as it did before slavery 
was abolished. Only in the old days of legal slavery it 
was limited to negroes; now the slaves are negroes, 
mulattoes, white people, even some Europeans. I have 
vol. i. —24 369 
