" I have come down to Rio agdn to try and sell a
book of Richard*s, and am still at work about the gold
concession. Richard is travelling (with leave) in the
interior. I accompanied Richard part of the way on
his travels. We parted on a little mountain with a
church on the top — a most romantic spot. He started
with two companions, three horse-boys, and a long
string of mules. I rode my black horse, and returned
alone with one mounted slave. We had fearful weather
all the time, torrents of tropical rain, thunder and
lightning, and our horses were often knee-deep in the
slush and mud. You cannot imagine how beautiful the
forests are. The trees are all interlaced with beautiful
creepers, things that would be cultivated in a hot-house,
and then be a failure, and all wild, tangled, and
luxuriant, and in a virgin forest ; you must force your
horse through these to make your way,

"You need not be frightened about me and my
riding, though every one says I am sure to be thrown



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some day; but I never ride a Rio Grande horse for that
reason. Only a man can shoot off properly when they
turn head over heels. I am getting very well up in
all that concerns stables and horses, and ride every day.
The other day I went off to ride, and I lost myself for
four and a half hours in a forest, and got quite frightened.
