s, others with
rounded backs, but all plainly showing in their stratification, which was
identical with that of the surrounding elevations, that in former days
there stood, where the valley was now, a plateau which had subsequently
been gradually eroded by the action of water and wind.

Having crossed the river, we arrived at Jaguara--we were now travelling
in the Minas Geraes Province--where a breakfast awaited us of rice, pork,
dried beef, as hard as leather, omelette with shrimps (a much cherished
dish in those parts), beans, mandioca, and coffee. Black railway porters,
firemen and engine drivers all sat round the table and ate heartily, the
meal costing 2 milreis, or about 2_s._ 8_d._

The railway ran almost parallel with the river on the north side round
the immense curve which the Rio Grande describes in that particular
section. We passed Sacramento (elev. 1,850 ft.), and, in numerous curves,
the railway rose by a gradient of 31/2 per cent among hills seemingly worn
out by torrential rains into rounded shapes with huge gaps between. We
left the Rio Grande, there about 100 yards wide with thickly wooded banks
and islands. At Conquista we had already again reached an elevation of
2,350 ft., but we still continued to rise by a gradient of 21/2 to 3 per
cent, until a pass was reached from which two exquisite panoramas were
obtained. One, particularly interesting, looked over Conquista with its
whitewashed houses--some 250 of them--and red-tiled roofs against the
background formed by the rugged sides of the natural cauldron worn in the
tableland by erosion.

At 538 kil., 2,700 ft. above the sea level, a view was obtained of a
small coffee plantation, but most of the country around was scantily
wooded, grassy in places, barren in others.

The railway, having descended to 2,500 ft., rose again to 2,900 ft. near
Paneiras Station. Then, through beautiful grazing country, gently
undulating, we descended and mounted and went round sweeping curves,
which formed in places regular loops not unlike a horseshoe. Two pits
producing a considerable quantity of lime existed some 2 kil. from
Paneiras. Weak attempts were noticeable here and there at growing coffee.
We were now in an eminently wonderful pasture land--getting more and more
beautiful as we neared Uberaba, where we found ourselves on almost flat
country at an elevation of 2,900 ft., with hardly any trees at all and
with a delicious climate. The town of Uberaba, with som