Instead of taking to the bank, when it reached the dam, it plunged over the fall, and made its way down by running in the current, which was no longer deep enough to require it to swim. The dread of the pursuer kept it from going upon land, where it might be scented and followed.
The old Colonel went with the ladies directly to the residence of Dom Barros, while Senor Peixoto very kindly acted as guide for me in examining the lands. He took me through the most obscure paths, and to all desired parts of the territory included in the tracts of Lacerda, Rodrigues, and Roberto, lying near the Rio Jacaré.
My impressions of the quality of these lands were not materially changed by the inspection, but malarial indications were presented at several points on the Lacerda tract, apart from the fixed fact of the unwholesome atmosphere of the Jacaré river. The quantity of water suited for drinking purposes was found less than previously anticipated, and there is no stream upon either of the places suited for any kind of machinery. The prospect for a location upon these lands is therefore decidedly unfavorable, though the soil would yield good crops.
After dining with Dom Barros, our party rode back to São Lorenço, a distance of sixteen miles, without any apparent inconvenience to the ladies. The physical stamina of these women is equal to any thing.
Friday, October 27, 1865.
Having eaten a great variety of meats and fruits, with much exposure to the hot sun, I found myself suffering this morning with some derangement of the bowels, and asked my old friend if he had any brandy. As he had none, he gave me some port wine, but this did not relieve me; and he then gave me a mixture of aqua-ardente (rum) and polvilho (starch of the mandioca) with a little water and sugar. It was very strong with the rum and I took but one-half of the quantity provided. This acted favorably, and is doubtless well adapted to relieve the relaxation of the intestines resulting from improper diet in this climate.
The amount and quality of my food was changed for this day to suit my condition; and it seemed to be a source of much concern to the family that I did not partake of the many good things prepared for me. Indeed, each of the three meals was like a dinner in the variety of the articles, and it required the greatest circumspection to keep from eating too much.
I rode out to the fields again with the old Colonel, and thus had a little more latitude for practising my vocabulary of Portuguese; and after returning my time was devoted industriously to improving my facility in the use of the language. I read aloud some articles in the newspaper which had already been learned with the use of the dictionary, and some difficulties of construction were explained by the Colonel and his son-in-law. I have also resorted to reading in the Portuguese Testament, with the English at hand, so as to assist me in a proper translation, but this does not seem to improve me so much as the reading of the articles in the newspapers with my dictionary. The effort to understand the idiom is a good exercise.
Saturday, October 28, 1865.
Although I retired late last night, my sleep was disturbed by the deranged state of my system, and farther perhaps by the presence of a vagalume which had been secured under a glass in the room.