from
south to north, in which exist the Gold and Diamond mines, for which
the province is so celebrated. The country to the east is mostly
covered with virgin forests, while that to the west, which is flatter,
chiefly consists of pasture lands, much of which, however, is covered
with Catinga forests, forming one of the largest tracts in Brazil, to
which the name of Sertao is given. In order to reach the Cidade
Diamantina, the capital of the Diamond district, which it was now my
intention to visit, it was necessary to make a long journey through
this desert-like country; the road most frequented, is that which runs
southward along the east bank of the Rio de San Francisco, and the
north of the Rio das Velhas, a large tributary of the former, which
takes its rise in the Gold country ; the other, which is a far worse
road, leads through the Sertao in a south-east direction; but I
preferred it, because it would sooner bring me into the mountainous
regions of the Diamond district.
On
the 1st of July, preparatory to our departure, my horses were brought
over from the island to the east side of the San Francisco, and early
on the following morning the luggage was all at once passed over, in a
large ajojo, two canoes lashed together. All being now prepared, I had
resolved to proceed immediately, but on collecting the animals, my own
saddle horse was not to be found; all that day was spent in search of
it, but the only trace left, was the leathern strap, by which its fore
legs had been secured, and which was found in the wood unbuttoned at
both ends, and as this could only have been done by some person, we
came to the conclusion that the horse was stolen; I, therefore,
resolved to lose no more time in looking after it. About mid-night we
were awakened by a black man, who had assisted my men in the morning's
search, who came to inform me that a horse similar to mine, had been
seen during the day, tied to a tree in the wood considerably further up
the river. Early next morning, I despatched one of my people in that
direction to look for it, who retained in about an hour, bringing the
horse with him; it was evident it had been taken there, in the hope of
its remaining concealed, until an opportunity occurred of carrying it
away altogether.
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