emainder of our days. As we entered the ravine, I
perceived how impossible it would be to escape; even if a person could
find his way back, after having succeeded in his escape. For many
miles the road was a narrow path cut on the side of the mountain,
yawning precipice below and inaccessible rocks above, and this narrow
way was at every two miles blocked up by a guard-house built upon it,
and through the portcullis of which it would be necessary to force a
way. And here we were, thousands of miles away from civilized life, in
the heart of a country uninhabited except by occasional bands of
Indians. At last we filed through the last of the guard-houses, and
found ourselves in a wider part of the ravine, which was crowded with
buildings of various descriptions. We were led up to the director's
house, and our names, persons, and descriptions were taken down by a
clerk. When my turn came, and I was asked in Portuguese who I was, I
shook my head, and replied "Ingles." An interpreter was called, and I
then stated my name, and begged the director would hear what I had to
say. He shook his head, and, after they had taken my description,
desired me to go away.

"Why did you not explain for me?" said I to the interpreter.

"Because he won't hear what you have to say; if he would, every man on
the chain would attempt to prove that he was sent here by mistake. You
may, by-and-by, find an opportunity to speak to him, that is, after
you have learnt Portuguese, and have been here a year or two; but it
will do no good."

During the whole of the journey, I had been separated from Ingram, and
now, for the first time since we left prison, I had an opportunity of
shaking him by the hand. I need not say how glad I was to meet again
my companion in misfortune, and our only fear was now, that we should
be again separated; but such was not the case. There were regular
lodgings or barracks for the slaves, which were certainly not bad; but
as all escape was considered impossible, any one who chose to raise a
little hut for himself out of the bushes which grew on the rocks was
permitted so to do. The hours of work were regular; we were allotted
out in gangs, which took up a certain square of the river, or river's
side; we worked from daylight till near dusk, with only an hour
allowed for repose in the heat of the day. There was a superintendent
over each gang of twenty, who watched them and made them work. These
superintendents were controlle