s, they are left to die, and putrify on the spot where they
happen to fall. These cattle are chiefly brought from the Sertao, which
is a wild country beyond the mountains of the gold district, intervening
between it and the diamond district, which is a fine pasture country,
but with few habitations. The term Sertao, however, is general all over
the interior of Brazil, for inland places unredeemed by culture. Ora
Preta is the most considerable town that we have yet met with, and it
owes it respectability and extent to the circumstance of its being the
town residence of the proprietors of gold mines, dealers in precious
stones, &c; and there is an Imperial Mint, with a government essayer
settled here, for the purpose of examining all the gold produced from
the mines, causing it to be melted and stamped, and a duty of 25 per
cent. taken from it for the Government.

This duty had, a short time previous to my visit, been reduced to 10 per
cent. for Brazilian subjects, the Government, however, continued to
exact 25 per cent, from Gongo Soco, or the Imperial British Brazilian
Mining Company; although, in their charter from the Brazilian
Government, it was understood, if not expressed, that the Company should
be allowed to work their mines on the same terms with the Brazilians,
however advantageous those terms might happen to be: at the time the
charter was granted, the Brazilians paid 25 per cent.; but after their
neglecting several mines, they petitioned the Government for a reduction
of duty, on the plea, that it was too high, to allow them a profit on
their expenses. The Government, upon this application, consented to
receive only ten per cent. from their own subjects, but absolutely
refused to accord to the British Mining Company any reduction of the
original duty.

Captain Lyon found it necessary to pass a couple of days here, to
transact some business; this proved a seasonable rest, particularly for
our mules, who had been worked fifteen days in succession.

_Tuesday, August 14_.--We this morning renewed our journey for Gongo
Soco, and immediately on leaving Ora Preta, began to ascend the
Ferreiria (Iron Mountain). After having rode over the top of it for
about six miles, we descended by a very steep and dangerous road, the
bed of a great part of which was composed of ironstone rock: very few
persons ever venture to ride down it; for, in case a mule should lose
its footing, both the animal and its rider would be hurled