al. The school-mistress was
set to prepare an excellent and plentiful meal. The mayor and all the
notabilities of the place in their Sunday clothing came to fetch me at
the house of the firm of Orlando Bros., where I had been most hospitably
sheltered, and where I had been requested to wait for them. At the
appointed time they arrived--in frock-coats, and each carrying an
umbrella.

"Is it raining?" I inquired in my astonishment at seeing the array of
articles which I had not seen for several months--especially as a few
minutes before I had been outside and it was a lovely starlit night.

"Oh no, indeed, it is not raining; we carry the umbrellas in due honour
to you!" they replied in a chorus, accompanied by a grand bow.

This was such an extraordinary compliment that it really took me some
time before I could grasp the meaning of it. It seemed that according to
the social rules of Diamantino, Matto Grosso, no one could be considered
fully dressed unless carrying an umbrella. Rain or shine, the people of
Diamantino carried their umbrellas on grand occasions.

After that one of the gentlemen pulled out of his pocket a long slip of
paper and proceeded to read a speech of welcome. I answered in a few
humble words. Another gentleman--there were eight altogether--produced
another slip which he duly read in a sonorous voice. Again I replied as
best I could. Then, as I was getting really anxious lest some one else
should be speechifying again, the mayor of the place offered me his arm,
and followed in a most respectful manner by the others, we adjourned to
the schoolroom, where the feast was spread upon the table.

More speeches when we entered the room, more speeches before we sat down,
speeches in the middle of dinner, speeches after dinner. Unaware of what
was coming, I had exhausted all the compliments I could think of in my
first speech, and I had to tax my poor brain considerably to reply with
grace--especially as I had to speak in Portuguese--to the many charming
things which my thoughtful hosts said. The banquet went off well. It is
difficult to imagine more considerate, kindly people than those exiles in
that far-away spot.

I took careful and repeated astronomical observations for latitude and
longitude in order to establish the exact position of that settlement.
Lat. 14 deg. 21'.7 S.; Long. 56 deg. 56' W. I purchased all the food I could
possibly collect--enough to last us some six months, which cost me a
smal