times, and more particularly while suffering from an indisposition, the prevalent symptom of which is a sensation of chilliness.  I found my strength very inadequate to bear much fatigue.  Our accommodation, however, was better to-night than the preceding one, and Captain Lyon being well known on the road, acquainted with the language, and a man of very agreeable manners, we found every one ready to do their utmost to serve him, especially the fair sex.  In speaking of the fair sex—­or rather, in this case, the female, but not fair—­a pretty young negress came to solicit charity, for the purpose of enabling her to make up a sum of money to purchase half her freedom, the other half having been left as a legacy, by her deceased master.  This is doing things by halves with a witness:  who would have thought of such piece-meal generosity, except a thrifty Brazilian Portuguese.

Friday, August 1.—­Soon after daylight, we set off again with our whole party:  and at eleven, we rested a short time to refresh ourselves at a venda,[52] which stands at the foot of a rugged and precipitous range, called the Serra Santa Anna (or St. Ann’s Mountain), which we afterwards passed over, and arrived, about three o’clock, at a respectable farm-house, in the village of Botaes, where we remained for the night, having travelled four leagues to-day.  Captain Lyon called my attention this afternoon, to the note of a bird in a wood, when passing over the mountain, named the Ferreirinho (little Blacksmith), from the resemblance of the note to the ringing sound of a smart blow from a small hammer on an anvil, terminating in a sharp whistle.

Saturday, 2.—­Notwithstanding the inconvenience I had suffered during the journey of the two preceding days, I felt an increase of strength, and an abatement of my cough.  Fortunately for me, we passed the night in a warm valley, and did not start this morning till nine o’clock, from which time our journey over the mountain proved very pleasant, for it must be remembered, that this is the winter season in this country; and that the coldness of the nights continues unabated until the rising sun begins to exert its influence.  We left Mr. A. Walker, with the loaded mules, to follow; Capt.  Lyon being anxious to proceed at a quicker rate.  Almost immediately after leaving the farm, we began to ascend the Alto de Serra, where, in some places, a false step of the mule would have precipitated both the animal and its rider into one of the fearful chasms that occasionally yawned beneath our path.  We were frequently placed in very awkward situations, for we met with several caravans of loaded mules, winch were generally conducted by the voices of the muleteers, who dash on at a fearless rate; and, in some of these passes, at the imminent risk of overturning the travellers whom chance places in their way:  I was frequently obliged to jerk my foot suddenly out of the stirrup, and allow my leg to pass behind on the back of the animal on which I rode, to avoid these unceremonious assaults; while, on the opposite side, I was pressed against the rugged surface of an overhanging ridge.