We stopped at the house of Dr. J. H. Gattiker, a Swiss physician, and in his absence were courteously received and entertained by his dignified and yet affable lady.
Sunday, November 12, 1865.
With our wants of every kind provided for in the best style, the beds were especially neat, having damask covers lined with silk, and the pillow-cases trimmed with fringe of the most tasteful pattern. The towels were also of fine material, and each end trimmed with fringe. Before making our toilet, coffee was served at our rooms in those beautiful china cups which are found generally in the houses of the better class of people. When I left my room, the Doctor was found in the parlor waiting to receive us; and, knowing that any thing from the United States, just now, would interest us, he went out and procured some copies of the Presbyterian newspaper, from the house of the Rev. Mr. Snyder, which were particularly appropriate for the day. I called, subsequently, and saw Mrs. Snyder; but, not finding Mr. Snyder at home, her tender of hospitality was declined for the present time.
General Wood and the rest of the party arrived in time to join us at a very late breakfast, and it was really a feast of fat things, in great variety and much good taste. I was seated at one end of the table, with the lady of the house upon my left hand, and I made such use of my limited stock of Portuguese as was necessary in communicating with her.
Some of our companions proposed to go to Ybicaba to-day, while the General and myself, with Mr. Snell, as interpreter, concluded to remain quietly here; and I wrote a lengthy communication for my friends, and also a letter to my wife, as appropriate Sunday-work.
All of us dined together; and the most bountiful supply was arranged in the greatest elegance upon the extended table, with a huge, fat turkey dressed in the best style, from the carving of which the General relieved our hostess.
Monday, November 13, 1865.
Our kind hostess furnished us with a cup of most excellent chocolate, before breakfast, this morning, though coffee had already been served prior to leaving our rooms. The General said that all his needs were supplied by this nutritious drink, and becoming very impatient at the delay of breakfast, proposed to go without waiting for it. But Dr. Gattiker would not hear of our going without breakfast; and, indeed, after breakfast, we had great difficulty in getting off from him, as he insisted we must spend the day at his house. I was favored with photographs of the Doctor and his wife, which will be treasured up in the collection of my friends in Brazil—she being a native of the country.
Upon starting, it was found that my mule was suffering from the loss of a shoe, and it became necessary for me to stop on the road, that he might have it replaced. General Wood and Mr. Snell, in the mean time, adopted my suggestion, and proceeded to Ybicaba. As the camaradas were behind, I awaited their arrival, and, taking one of their mules, he remained to bring mine when it was shod.
I made a fruitless attempt to advance upon this lazy and perverse mule, but at length, in despair, stopped upon the roadside, and dismounted to await the arrival of my own. Here, in the wild forest, it occurred to me that a tiger or other wild beast might attack me, but I congratulated myself that I could get out of the way faster on foot than upon this stupid animal, and it might be that the carnivorous propensity of the wild occupant of the woods would be satisfied with the tough carcass of the old mule, which I would leave to his tender mercies.