The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-09-03
For the Central Presbyterian.
FROM BRAZIL.


SIERRA NEGRA, June IT,
I started from Penha Yesterday
at noon on my mule, and at three o'clock
reached the tazenda Coffee plantation
where l Joined Mr. Wingerter (the col
porteur) and Jose Ia young Brazilian, a
Christian. I then started off with the
young owner of the fazenda to the place
where we expected to spend the night.
He asked me to converse in English which
we did He had recently returned from
Belgium. We were among the noun
tains, and at one point had very fine
view of the plain country, embracing a
range Of not less than fifty miles in diam
eter, magnificent view. l had already
passed through some very romantic seen
cry in ascending the serras.
Between four and FIVE o'clock we ar
rived at the home of the owner of the
fazenda, where l supposed he would have
invited me to stay, but the family are in
mourning for the father who has lately
died of leprosy. He directed me to the
house ofo one of his tenants who he said was
a Protestant, but who I have since learned
has done the cause of the Gospel great
harm by asserting that the Virgin Mary
was prostitute, and other ideas.
found Jose there, and in few mo-
ments Mr.. Wingerter came up, they hav-
ing come by different routes and both
having sold books. l will not attempt to
describe the house. Of course it had a
dirt floor and no ceiling, board shutters
for windows, no paint, no plaster either
either inside or out,-just mud shanty,
no chairs, no furniture, except one bed
stead which leaned against the wall and
a table. We asked some Of the ignorant
laborers to come in, and l sat in the ham
mock and read and explained our Lord s
sermon on the mount and other passages,
while Wingerter sat on little trunk by
me and held a candle for me, then
prayed. Everything was tumbled about,
heller skelter, in utter confusion. AS |
had breakfasted in Penha at 10 o'clock,
I was somewhat hungry, so Wingerter
asked the man if he couldn't get me some
thing to eat. He had chicken prepared,
and at 10 o'clock, P. NJ, we sat down to
dinner around a little trunk-the table
had been tnrned into bed Our food
and dishes were of the simplest kind.
Afterwards I turned into bed, Wingerter
and Jose on the table, which proved to
be about foot too short. l had my shawl
and waterproof along, else 1 would have
suffered with cold, as it frosted and the
walls were full of cracks, and there was
no ceiling. This morning we came to
Sierra Negra.
After leaving the house, We assembled a
very high hill from which we had another
magnificent view. Wingerter held my
mule while l stood in my saddle to get
better view. We then wound around,
down into the deep shade Of the forest,
where l saw some OF the most exquisite
ferns l had ever seen. At one place,
while our animals were drinking from a
mountain brook, ! saw fern about TWEEN
tv feet high The trunk was prettily
marked, about four or five inches in diam
eter, and smooth up to the top where the
long graceful leaves spread themselves
out. The sun was beaming down through
them. l don't think I ever saw anything
more exquisitely delicate.
We arrived here about II o'clock The
village is built down amongthe high hills
that surround it like an amphitheatre
Sierra Negra, BLACK Mountain from which
the village takes its name, lies about half
a mile to the east We have been here
several hours, and doubt if l Will be
able to preach. We are in a small tavern
which does not merit so respectable a
name. The owner has a Bible, and is
somewhat inclined to the gospel, but
warns me not to attempt to preach, as the
people are very fanatical and will GER
tainly mob me. am perfectly calm; |
know that the Lord Jesus is with me and
He will guide me to do what will most
promote His glory.
N7qht.-Within few doors Of where
we are staying is an unoccupied house,
very ordinary, which the tavern-keeper
cot for us only because he and Wingerter
are Masons, but urging me not to attempt
to preach as he did not want either of us
beaten or manned. He said there was
not a person in the village who wished to
hear me, he knew the people were already
prepared to mob me.
Wingerter and Jose both went out to
sell books and invite the people Both
came back to confirm what our host had
said
I went with Wmgerter to call on the
priest, but he was not at home. Winger
ter afterwards saw him. The old man
became very indignant because Wngerter
offered him a Testament.
The house was opened, but as it began
to get dark number Of men built fire
in the street in front Of the house, and |