He is the Catholic priest of the place, and has the best establishment we saw. I observed the facings of the windows were of native pine, which grows very large and extensively at no great distance. The church is a combination of the old building with a new structure, but all in a rude, unfinished condition.
Sunday, December 31, 1865.
Our inquiries at Paranapanema satisfy all the party that it will not be practicable to reach Xiririca with our animals; and in view of the distance to Iporanga, the prearranged plan of visiting the country upon the Ribeira de Ignape has been abandoned by my friends, Dr. Shaw and Major Meriwether. But as I am not prone to give up any thing desirable because of the difficulties to be encountered, I expect to proceed to Iporanga with animals and a camarada hired by Mr. Bennaton, and thence I will descend the river to Xiririca, where I hope to find Mr. Street.
In the mean time Mr. Bennaton will go with the other gentlemen to Botocatu and the region of Perecicaba, including a visit to the country around Araraquara. They will give me a report in writing of the impressions connected with the localities visited,[[27]] and I expect to furnish them an account of my observations, so that each party may be informed as to the entire territory examined.
My proposed route, lying between the serra and the river, will give me a very good idea of the lands on this side of the river; and my investigations may be extended afterwards to the other side. The climate below Xiririca is said to be very unfavorable from the rains and fogs which prevail; but above that line the atmosphere is reported to be free from humidity and to be healthy; while the lands are represented as being fertile and adapted to all variety of products grown in this country.
The temperature here to-day is remarkably cool for this latitude, the thermometer being this evening 62° Fahrenheit; and there is a considerable breeze, with a slight drizzle of rain, which is said to be very common during this season. The town and country are however represented as healthy, and there is no physician residing in the municipality or district. Here, as elsewhere, the glands of the neck among the women are enlarged very much.
There is quite an assemblage of people here to join in the festivities of New Year’s Eve, and extensive preparations for a grand bonfire and illumination, with a display of fire-works on the fantastic order. A square pen of wood has been built in the open plaza to the height of fifteen (15) feet, with a collection of small sticks arranged on top for ignition, all of which is expected to burn to the ground in the course of the evening or night. The illumination at the front of the church is made by cups of the peel of a half orange, having oil and a taper, all arranged into the shape of a cross, but they do not give much brilliancy, and this display is rather a failure.
The rockets are of great variety; some giving reports like a musket, others discharging several balls of different hues, and again a few having a reversed action, by which a blazing mass is sent down amidst the men, women, and children, or dividing into numerous streams of fire, which dash hither and thither in all directions. The revolving fire-works were decidedly successful at the close.
A few brass instruments and a violin in the hands of genteel Germans afforded very good music.
New Year’s Day, 1866.