SAN R.OMAO TO THE DIAMOND DISTRICT. 381
which,
together with the Vellozias, give a decided feature to their otherwise
peculiar vegetation. This shrub is about six feet high, with numerous
branches issuing nearly horizontally from the upper part of the stem,
each bearing a cluster of narrow leaves about half a foot long. The
whole of the plant, with the exception of the upper sides of the
leaves, is everywhere covered with a dense coat of long
brownish-coloured wool, which, in places where it grows abundantly, is
collected by the inhabitants to fill their beds and pillows. I
afterwards met with some other species, having their leaves so very
narrow that at first sight they resemble the Scotch fir, the likeness
being increased by their habit of growth, which is somewhat similar. In
the afternoon we made a journey of three more leagues, through a hilly,
barren, grassy country, and halted for the night in a hollow by the
side of a small stream, a little beyond a fazenda called Viados.
After
travelling about a league on the following morning, through a flatfish
country, we arrived at the Arraial de Bom Tim, an irregularly built
village, consisting of a church, and about forty or fifty houses, many
of which have a very dilapidated appearance. We stopped here no longer
than was necessary to give a feed of corn to the horses, of which they
stood greatly in need, the pastures through which we now were passing
affording very little nourishment. The principal shop in the village of
Bom Fim belonged, as it did twenty years before, when it was visited by
M. Auguste de St. Hilaire, to Colonel Pedro Jose Virciani, the
proprietor of a large fazenda about two leagues distant, where he
resides, the shop being entrusted to a person in whom he confides ;
this practice I found to be not uncommon with rich fazen-deiros in this
province. From the Vigario of Formigas I obtained a line of route from
this place to the Cidade Diamantina, but being here informed of another
road having the double recommendation of being both better and shorter,
I determined on giving it the preference; by so doing it became
necessary to pass the fazenda of San Eloi belonging to the
above-mentioned Colonel Virciani. On arriving there I sent one of my
men to ask leave to remain till the following day, which was granted;
