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[[stamped, outlined by rectangular box]] A.S.H. JAN 23 1930 [[/stamped]] 
[[stamped]] HITCHCOCK AND CHASE LIBRARY Smithsonian Institution [[/stamped]]

Diamantina, Minas, Dec 29, 1929 Sunday

Dear Prof Hitchcock,
This has been a diamond mine to me. The old town is on a steep slope, the streets paved with uneven much worn stone blocks. There is a deep ^[[insertion]] narrow [[/insertion]] valley to the east and northeast and a long rocky ridge rises beyond. (My pen is nearly dry and I did not bring the ink bottle with me). I came up from Bello Horizonte on the nocturno, [[strikethrough]] with [[/strikethrough]] in a dormitorio car, the only way to avoid staying over night at Corintho. The journey east to Diamantina was by day, 8:30 to 3:30, fascinating all the way, wonderful grass country. Stations are so far apart I can't walk from one to another and take train back in places I'd like to - the one I want most is 36 km., but there is probably equally good some 12-14 km from here and I can get a train back at 3 pm. The afternoon I arrived, I went out toward the ridge, getting only into the rocks near the base. It is badly grazed by mules and goats but I found 10 nice grasses including Pasp scalare, [[insertion, in blue pencil]] ! [[/insertion]], I [[underlined]] think, [[/underlined]] new for me, and Pasp arenarium, first time, so 

Transcription Notes:
Diamantina, Minas: Diamantina is an historic diamond center in the state of Minas, Brazil.