We returned to our rendezvous a while before night, and found the rest of the company had not stirred beyond the premises during the day; and some of them were perched upon some timber for machinery that lay in the yard, while others met us, while relaxing their limbs in a short walk from the house toward the outer gate of the enclosure.
Wednesday, November 8, 1865.
We left the fazenda of Senor Louiz Pereira Barbose at 6 o’clock this morning, after partaking of an early breakfast, and returned to the house of our old friend Senor Lima. Here he had collected his breeding stock for our observation; and though the mares were generally of small size, there were a few very good young horses, and the colts for the most part looked well. It is a little remarkable to observe how entirely quiet the stallions are, when allowed to run at large in this way with a promiscuous drove of animals. There was a jackass also running with the stock, yet I saw no young mules; and the dull and lifeless aspect of this animal gave no promise of an increase of his stock. There were thirty mares, and if even this number were employed in rearing mules, it would doubtless prove profitable; but this scrubby specimen of horses, which are propagated, are not likely to give much return for the trouble of looking after them. These animals subsist entirely upon grass, and very rarely get salt, as it is too costly at these interior places to be afforded for stock, except in very small quantities.
Dining with Senor Lima we proceeded afterward upon the same route by which we had gone up, and reached the residence of Senor Dom Correa Leite de Moraes at four o’clock in the afternoon. He and his wife received us again most hospitably, and have extended all the kindness possible to our whole party.
Our saddle-mules have remained here in his pasture, and been fed with corn daily from his crib, while our clothing has been washed and ironed in our absence. The pack-mules have been sent off this afternoon so as to keep ahead to-morrow.
Thursday, November 9, 1865.
Our cheerful and hospitable friend, Dom José Correa Leite de Moraes, and his kind lady, received our cordial acknowledgments at leaving them this morning. Our own mules being fresh, moved off with alacrity, and upon reaching the Freguezia de Jahu, we were met by Senor José Rebeiro Camargo, and invited to the house of his son-in-law, where wine and coffee were served, and his wife and daughter came out to bid us adieu. It was thought that this demonstration was in part for the purpose of showing his unmarried daughter to one of the young men, to whom the father had taken a fancy for a son-in-law. But I doubt if the impression was well calculated to promote his wishes for incorporating an American graft into his family. This young man was furnished with a list of the entire family, and received a very cordial embrace from the father at parting.
We breakfasted at the fazenda of Senor Joaquim Oliveiro Mattozinto, and found him this time awaiting our arrival, with every thing in readiness for giving us a substantial entertainment. He had very kindly furnished mules for some of our party during the recent trip, and had accompanied us in person until sickness made it necessary for him to return.
The land from Jahu to this fazenda is of superior quality, being of the dark brown order, and as this is eight miles from the Rio Jahu, it may be inferred that this fine soil extends to a like distance from the river elsewhere on this side, which corresponds to the statement made in regard to the breadth of good land extending along this stream.
The general health of this region of country is very good, yet there are cases of chill and fever reported upon the Tieté and Jaceré, and throughout the region lying adjacent to those water-courses. No instance was brought to my knowledge of malarial disease remote from these streams; and, from the general aspects of the country, I would not think it likely to prevail to any considerable extent away from their margins.