When the scenes at the table were ended, by a toast to the Emperor, the company went to the saloon adjoining the dining-room, and engaged during the evening in various stag dances and comic plays. Even blindman’s buff was joined in by the parish priest, who was in attendance, and seemed to enjoy the sports hugely. Some of the recreations consisted in rehearsals of the pastimes of the lower order of people (called here caipira) when they have gatherings in the country, such as we would style a frolic or break-down.
Wednesday, November 15, 1865.
A large portion of the company having spent the night under the hospitable roof of our host, they left early this morning for their homes, and we were served with an early breakfast preparatory to our renewing our travel. Arriving at the villa of Lemeira, we stopped a short time at the house of Captain Lonço Franco, who took such a fancy to his brother larador (farmer) Mr. Brown, that he presented him with a likeness of his wife. Ale, wine and brandy were produced for the company, but we found much difficulty here, as elsewhere, in procuring water to drink, from the fact that no pails or buckets for holding water are ever kept in their houses. The article ordinarily used is a sort of earthenware jug or large bottle, but this is frequently not supplied with water, and it consequently has to be sent off to be filled when water is desired.
So far as I have observed there are no wells in this country, and upon inquiring why they were not used, the statement was made that there was no need for them, as there is an abundance of fresh running water to be found everywhere. The proximity to a spring seems to be a matter of little moment, and consequently the water is not often found very cool. Indeed, ice seems to be in very little demand in the cities, as there are machines for its manufacture at several points, which are not employed, and yet this article sells in Rio de Janeiro for ten cents per pound by retail.
We proceeded to the inn at the bridge of Atibaia for dinner, and afterwards to another inn at Quilambo, where our party spent the night.
Thursday, November 16, 1865.
Mr. Snell having gone forward last night to Campinas, where he resides, was requested to advise Senor Joaquim Bonifacio D’Amaral, alias Settequéda, that we would come to his house this morning for breakfast. Moving accordingly at an early hour, we rode sixteen miles, and upon entering the city, we met our friend, Senor Joaquim, with a party of other gentlemen on horseback, who came out to escort us to his house in Campinas.
It is eminently becoming that honor should be given where it belongs, and therefore, as a matter of history, I will state that General W. W. W. Wood was the object and prime cause of these demonstrations made at different points upon our route. Prior to joining him, I saw nothing of this kind of display on the part of the people, and pursued a very quiet business-like course in my associations with the inhabitants of the different sections visited. As there is nothing else to occupy my attention in passing again over the road previously travelled, it is very satisfactory to witness these manifestations in behalf of the representative of seven States.
We found every thing in complete order upon our arrival, and rooms with the neatest possible outfit for each of us. After washing and getting a cup of coffee breakfast was announced, and the ladies of the house were met in the dining-room, when I advanced and shook hands as with old friends. Senhora seemed to take quite an interest in my small acquisitions in Portuguese since my previous visit to the family, and I was encouraged to use all in my power, talking for myself and a little likewise for the General and others seated near me.
Dr. Reinhardt and Dr. Vaz, practitioners of the city, were met here, and the former coming some years ago from the United States, speaks our language fluently; while the latter uses some words and sentences of English, but slowly and imperfectly. I attempted to talk Portuguese to him while he responded in English, and we managed to communicate most matters that either desired to speak. As there were quite a number of the gentlemen of the city invited to breakfast with us, I made the acquaintance of some of the best people in the place, and renewed my acquaintance with Senor Joaquim Egydio de Sonsa, who is not so demure as he seemed upon my former meeting with him.