f fresh green grass was brilliantly illuminated by a warm dazzling sun.
Most beautiful grazing land--practically going to waste now--we crossed
on reaching the highest point of the Serra; grass, grass, as far as the
eye could see--quite flat land--but not a head of cattle in sight; in
fact, no sign of animal life, and a stillness of death except for the
puffing of the railway engine on which I sat. Water, however, did not
seem to abound--only a small stream, near which curious-looking patches,
or _bosquets_ of trees lay in dark spots on that light green expanse. We
were then at an elevation of 3,400 ft., amid delightfully cool and crisp
air.

At Burity passed the great route of the cattle dealers from Goyaz and
Matto Grosso for Sta. Rita, Passos, and Tres Coracoes do Rio Verde. At
Palestina (845 kil. from the sea) we were on what seemed an interminable
flat plateau with ideally green grass, and here and there patches of
stunted vegetation. Land could be purchased there as low as 10 milreis an
alqueire, although the best land cost from 50 to 300 milreis.

All was absolutely flat until we reached Sicupira (elev. 3,100 ft. above
the sea level), where we began to descend to the Rio Uberabinha, its
delightfully clear crystalline water winding its way through scrub.

At Uberabinha we again came across the wonderful red earth of the Riberao
Preto district. Situated at an elevation of 3,050 ft. stood the little
town of some 4,000 inhabitants, about 500 yards from the comfortable and
pretty station. Although the land was beautiful, cultivation could not be
said to be prevalent. Merely some rice, beans, and Indian corn were grown
in small quantities.

From Uberabinha the railway line descended all the time through thinly
wooded country of shrubs and stunted trees; the verdant prairies, so
refreshing to the eyes, were left behind, and the country became more
broken, but the land was still excellent for agricultural purposes. After
crossing a well-constructed iron bridge resting on two masonry pillars
and spanning the picturesque rapids of the Rio das Velhas--the river,
with its turbid, muddy, nasty-looking water, being there some 80 yards
wide, at an elevation of 2,050 ft. above the sea level--we again began a
steep ascent by a gradient of over 3 per cent, following most of the time
the river course. The thickly wooded banks obstructed a good deal of the
view except here and there, where a charming glimpse of the water could
be