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packages, formed of raw hides, called malas, each containing three arrobas, (96 lb.) two of which
constitute a horse-load, and are denominated by the Portuguese a carga.
At Villa Nova do Principe the cotton is sold at so much the carga of six arrobas, and varies in price
according to the changes of the Bahia market, say from eight milreas upwards the carga, to this must be
added the carriage to Cachoeira, which fluctuates according as horses and mules are plentiful, or
otherwise, from eight milreas to fifteen the carga. From Cachoeira, as has been already remarked, it is
conveyed in large boats to Bahia, at a freight of one hundred reas the carga; here it is put into bags, the
expense of which is trifling, for the hide will sell for almost as much as buys the material for the bag, and
the labour amounts only to one hundred and sixty reas[33] per bag, (not quite tenpence.)
Cotton is planted in the month of January or February, and gathered, say the first pluckings, about
September. The same plants last three years, the second year being frequently more productive than
the first; but in the third year the crop falls off, both in quantity and quality. After this the plants are
destroyed, and the grounds lies fallow.
Some hides and rum are exported; and the following statement will show the number of ships, and
the amount of produce they conveyed from hence, in the year ending on the 1st of October, 1818.
SUGAR. TOBACCO. COTTON. MOL
To what Number Cases. Boxes. Barrels. Arrobas. Rolls. ½ Arrobas. Bales. Arrobas. Bags. Arrobas. Hides. Pipes
Places the of Rolls.
Vessels vessels.
belong.
Lisbon 24 9,828 381 — 399,021 8,101 —— 107,153 843 18,657 1,054 6,324 46,037 25
Oporto 19 5,506 245 42 218,104 —— —— —— —— —— 262 1,572 6,498 —
Gibraltar 10 429 24 — 17,328 3,971 11,732 79,058 —— —— 140 840 9,846 —
Ilha Gracia 1 3 24 — 312 —— —— —— —— —— 6 30 —— —
Hamburgh 11 2,716 52 — 109,056 386 1,677 8,758 831 8,001 115 690 1,309 —
Liverpool 36 1,187 10 — 47,539 —— —— —— —— —— 30,430 182,580 1,154 —
London 5 689 38 — 27,864 —— —— —— 70 1,406 2,168 10,840 853 —
Falmouth 3 981 51 — 39,546 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —
Portsmouth 1 395 25 — 15,975 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —
Guernsey 1 236 4 — 9,472 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —
Amsterdam 3 930 28 — 37,480 109 —— 1,526 50 1,050 —— —— —— —
Trieste 1 333 27 — 13,563 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —
Jersey 1 399 4 — 15,980 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —
Geneva 1 —— — — —— 49 1,623 2,932 —— —— —— —— —— —
Cowes 1 543 35 — 22,000 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —
Stockholm 1 250 — — 10,000 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —
New York 2 —— — — —— —— —— —— — —— —— —— 2,200 38
Baltimore 1 —— — — —— —— —— —— — —— —— —— 2,200 6
Philadelphia 2 2 — — 79 —— —— —— 24 504 —— —— 2,175 22
Bremen 1 21 — — 840 —— —— —— 120 2,460 53 318 40 11
Salem 8 —— — — —— —— —— —— — —— —— —— 9,950 84
Boston 4 —— — — —— —— —— —— — —— —— —— 1,263 71
Newport 1 —— — — —— —— —— —— — —— —— —— —— 8
Nantz 6 420 5 — 16,830 —— —— —— 30 603 541 2,710 3,102 —
Bourdeaux 4 245 7 18 11,012 —— —— —— — —— 1,370 8,220 —— —
Totals 148 25,113 960 60 1,012,001 12,616 15,032 199,427 1968 32,681 36,139 214,124 86,627 268

Bahia is considered by the English merchants a more agreeable place of residence than any of the
maritime towns of the Brazil, and a more social intercourse has existed amongst themselves than at
some of the other places. The city and residences in the vicinity are delightfully refreshed by the land
and sea breezes, and the climate is deemed very healthy. There is an English hospital here, as at the
other commercial towns of note, but there are generally few invalids.
Here, as in all parts of the Brazil, the females are much confined to the houses, and do not take free
and open exercise; their domestic habits are slovenly and indolent; many, in the Turkish style, sit on the
ground upon mats, while at work; they dress loosely; and to the general listlessness and prevailing
custom of indulging in a sesta, or nap after dinner, may be attributed the gross and unshapely
appearance of some of the Brazilian females. It would, however, be illiberal to include the whole in this
description, as there are many fine women, and if better acquainted with the graces and the refinements
of the fair sex, would be ornaments to any circle of society, having naturally much sprightliness and wit,
if properly directed, and freed from the shackles of jealousy with which they are surrounded.
This city, on the 10th of February, 1821, followed the example of Para, in declaring itself for the new
constitution of Portugal, and a resolution to that effect was publicly adopted in the camara, and signed
by Conde de Palma, the governor, who however declined holding that situation longer. This measure
was brought about principally by the military. Lieut.-Colonels Manuel Pedro de Freitas and Francisco de
Paula, were its most active promoters. It is said, that thirteen of the military, including a major, were
killed.

On Stone by C. Shoosmith from a Sketch by Jas. Henderson.

Printed by C. Hullmandel.
A BRAZILIAN SIESTA, OR AFTERNOON NAP.
 CHAP. XVI.
PROVINCE OF SEREGIPE D’EL REY.

Colonization—Reduction of the Indians—Extent—Mountains—Rivers

and Lakes—Mineralogy—Zoology—Phytology—Povoações.
The conquest and colonization of this province was commenced
in the government of Christovam de Barros, deputy-governor of
Bahia, in 1590, in consequence of orders which he received from
King Philip II. at the request of the inhabitants between Rio Real and
Itapicuru, who lived in a state of great inquietude, as well from the
Indians of the country as the French pirates, who frequented the
coast in search of Brazil wood. It was for a considerable period a
district of Bahia.
After a century had elapsed, it began to have ouvidors about the
year 1696, at which period its diminutive population, involved in
anarchy by a faction of some of the leading persons, disregarded
entirely the orders of the governor-general. The leaders were
prosecuted; but they obtained pardon of their Sovereign, upon
condition of subjecting the Tupinambazes of the country, who had
always been a considerable obstacle to the augmentation of the
colony. They succeeded in subjugating the Indians in part, and the
rest were reduced afterwards by the exertions of the Jesuitical
missionaries, and established in various aldeias. This province has
nearly ninety miles of coast from the Rio Real, which divides it from
that of Bahia, to the St. Francisco, which separates it from
Pernambuco, and nearly one hundred and forty miles in width,
terminating almost in an angle at the small river Xingo, about eight
miles below the great fall of Paulo Affonso.
It may be considered as divided into two parts—eastern and
western. The first, which is about forty miles in width, is commonly
distinguished by the appellation of Mattas, in consequence of its
extensive woods, which are, however, diminishing considerably from
the axe of the cultivator of the sugar cane and cotton tree; and the
western part, which is larger, has acquired the denomination of
Agrestes, from the sterility of its soil, commonly stony, with few
woods or fertile lands, and very deficient in water.
The Agrestes, if we except some portions, principally in the
proximity of the river St. Francisco, even where there are only small
aldeias, besides the town of Propiba, and the parish of St. Pedro, is
almost generally uncultivated, affording only scanty pasturage for
cattle, a great part of which perish from hunger and thirst when the
winter season passes over without much rain, as in the summer
season scarcely the smallest rivulet or perennial fount is met with. In
the eastern part or Mattas, where the rains are more frequent, the
soil is substantial and fertile, and the country presents a more
agreeable aspect of woods and partially cultivated lands.
Mountains.—The face of this province is generally flat, and,
although uneven, there is scarcely one small hill or mountain of any
considerable elevation; that of Itabayanna is the only remarkable one
between the Rio Real and the Vazabarris, and, although thirty miles
from the coast, is discovered at a great distance from the sea. Upon
its summit there is a lake that is never dry, and from this mountain,
which is affirmed to be rich in gold, various pure streams descend,
forming a handsome river.
In the western part is the Serra Negra, little higher than its
surrounding plains, and the Serra Tabanga, whose base is bathed by
the St. Francisco, with which it is prolonged.
Rivers and Lakes.—The Rio Real, which has about one
hundred and forty miles of course, is precipitated by various falls,
and only affords navigation to the first, thirty miles from the sea; from
this fall, downwards, to which the tide advances, the river is wide and
deep, but above it is small, and its tributary heads are frequently
dried up. It enters the sea twenty-five miles north-east of the
Itapicuru, and receives, in the vicinity of its embouchure, the rivers
Saguim, Guararema, and Piauhy, all by the left margin.
The Cotindiba is considerable only for the space of eighteen
miles, which the tide advances up, affords sufficient depth for
sumacas, is of great width, has its margins covered with mangroves,
and, in the vicinity of the sea, with white sand, adorned in parts with
very fine cocoa-nut trees. The greatest part of the sugar of this
province is exported by the dangerous embouchure of this river,
about eighteen miles to the north-east of Vazabarris, the shoals in
front of which occasion a furious agitation of the sea, and it is only
experienced navigators that can conduct sumacas with safety over
the bar.
The Seregipe, which gives the name to this province, is larger
and navigable for a greater space than the Cotindiba, with which it
runs almost parallel, until united with it by the left margin, eight miles
from the sea. In the interior of the country it is inconsiderable. Serigp
was its original name, and which it retained for many years after the
conquest of the country.
The Vazabarris, after a long course, discharges itself into the
famous bay of the same name, and affords navigation to smacks,
with the aid of the tide, for twenty miles. It is twenty-five miles north-
east of Rio Real, and Irapirang was its original name.
The Japaratuba is smaller than all the preceding rivers, and
empties itself by two mouths, twenty-five miles to the north-east of
the Cotindiba, and about the same distance to the south-west of the
St. Francisco. Though the tide runs up for many leagues, it only
affords navigation to canoes, in consequence of the little depth at its
entrance.
The Poxim, which rises near the Vazabarris, and runs into the
Cotindiba, near the sea, is navigable for canoes, which proceed
many leagues up with the tide. In the vicinity of the river St.
Francisco there are various lakes of great extent, upon the margins
of which numerous collections of birds assemble, such as the
colhereira, jaburu, sabacu, caroe, carauna, and the heron; upon the
centre of their waters are seen immense flocks of wild ducks, and
the mingua, a species of diver, which conceals the body below the
surface, showing only its head, and part of its extraordinary neck,
appearing like a snake.
Mineralogy.—Flint, potters’ clay, lime, and grindstone, a black
ferruginous stone, gold, marine salt, crystals, slate, and blue stone.
 Zoology.—There are all the species of domestic and wild
animals of the neighbouring provinces. The anta is rare; the ounce
has almost disappeared in the eastern part; deer are numerous, and
the red guariba monkey. In all parts there are great quantities of
bees of various kinds. There are many tatubollas, or armadillos,
upon the left margin of the St. Francisco, which have been observed
on being brought to the right bank frequently to die, or never to
multiply. In the river St. Francisco there is a sort of fishing
sparrowhawk, which dives in order to surprise the fish that descend
the river; but when the prize is of a weight superior to its strength, it
dies from suffocation, not being able to disengage itself. The wood-
turkey is here very common, as is the small pavao, or peacock.
Phytology.—Amongst other trees which afford timber for
building and joiners’ work, are the sucupira, iron wood, cedar,
sapucaya, jiquitiba, uruçuca, white and green batinga, similar to the
box-tree, conduru, gaiduno, quiri, itapicuru, pausangue, (blood
wood,) juciranna, vinhatica, ejitahy, gonçalo alves, putumuju,
masculine and feminine, arapiraca, bow wood, jinipapo, mastick,
biriba, of the bark of which tow is made for caulking. Amongst the
medicinal plants, there are ipecacuanha, alcasus, paroba, Jesuits’
bark, orange tree of the country, cassia, and sanguinaria. Orange
and other fruit trees are very scarce. Baunilha is a useful vegetable,
and grows here spontaneously, but its cultivation is not attended to.
The cocoa tree is unknown, although the soil is well adapted for it.
The coffee tree, which is such a lucrative branch of commerce to its
cultivators in the provinces of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, is yet seen
in few places, and there scantily.
Upon the margins of the river St. Francisco there is a tree, for
whose primitive name was substituted that of mancanzeira by the
Portuguese; the largest do not exceed the size of an orange tree,
and generally have many trunks together of little height, with the leaf
larger than those of a lemon tree, thick, elliptical, smooth, and of a
dark green. In the same tree there is fruit in the form of a lemon-peel
and a fig; but the greater part, and principally the largest, have the
figure of large tomates, the size of a wild apple, the rind soft and full
of pimples. The pulp is yellow, of an insipid taste, bitter, and smells
like a quince. The smallest have an oval stone; the largest have four
or more: the rind is hard, the kernel white and bitter. This fruit is not
eaten, but is excellent as preserves, made similar to marmalade.
This tree, which never surpasses a shrub in dry lands, is always
heavily laden; and the troquaze pigeon and the land tortoise become
fat upon the stones, after the fruit falls to the ground. The eastern
portion of this province is in part appropriated to mandioca, Indian
corn, feijao, cotton, and the sugar cane, for which there are near
three hundred engenhos; these are objects of exportation as well as
hides, flintstone, grindstone, cattle, horses, hogs, and the ticum
palm. In this part there are extensive tracts almost covered with a
small cane, with the leaves short, not exceeding the width of the
wheat leaf, and the knots armed with sharp points, so that no
quadruped enters or traverses the plantations. The oil of mamona is
universally used for lights, and might become an abundant branch of
exportation. The water-melon in few districts is large or good.
The towns of this province are,
Seregipe
St. Amaro
St. Luzia in the eastern part.
Itabaianna
Villa Nova

Propiha
Lagarto in the western part.
Thomar

Seregipe, or St. Christovam, capital of the province, the

residence of its governor and ouvidor, and having the title of a city, is
well situated upon an elevation near the river Paramopama, which is
an arm of the Vazabarris, eighteen miles from the sea, but does not
surpass a town in a state of mediocrity. It has a convent of St.
Franciscans, another of slippered Carmelites, and two Terceira
orders attached to them; a chapel of Our Lady of Rozario, for the
blacks; another of Amparo, for the mulattoes; a house of
misericordia, a good town house, and a large bridge. All the public
edifices are of stone. It has royal professors of the primitives and
Latin, and abundance of good water. The orange, mango, and
banana trees grow in its vicinity. Sumacas come up the river as far
as this place to take in sugar and some cotton. This city, which was
destroyed by the Dutch on the 25th of December, 1637, eight sugar
works then in the province sharing the same fate, had its
commencement upon the left margin and two miles above the
embouchure of the Cotindiba, where yet are the ruins of the church
called St. Christovam. It was removed from thence to a site between
the river Poxim and the Cotindiba, situated at an equal distance from
its first foundation and the place where it now stands.
St. Amaro, so called from the patron of its mother church, is a
small town, thinly populated, and without commerce, although well
situated and enjoying salubrious air, about one mile north of the
confluence of the rivers Seregipe and Cotindiba.
Five miles west of it, the aldeia of Moruim, in the extremity of an
arm of the Seregipe, is the depôt for a considerable quantity of sugar
cases, and has a small market on Saturdays.
St. Luzia, agreeably situated upon a height near the river
Guararema, (uniting itself eight miles lower with the Rio Real,) is
inconsiderable, has a church dedicated to the same saint, a chapel
of the Lady of Rozario, and exports the productions of the
surrounding country.
Ten miles distant from it, the povoaçao of Estancia, the most
populous and commercial of the whole province, without excepting
the capital, is situated in a plain upon the left margin of the river
Piauhy, abounding with excellent water, and has a chapel of Our
Lady of Guadalupe, another of Rozario, and a bridge over the river. It
is eighteen miles from the ocean, and the sumacas which enter by
the bar of the Rio Real anchor in front of it, and export various
articles of merchandise.
Itabaianna, situated in the vicinity of the serra of the same name,
having a church of St. Antonio, is a small town, and celebrated for
the race of small horses, bred in its extensive district, where cattle
are also reared, as well as various necessaries of life.
 Villa Nova de St. Antonio is agreeably situated, upon an
eminence refreshed with fine breezes, upon the St. Francisco, on the
opposite side, and two miles below Penedo. It has a good church, a
royal professorship of Latin, and in its vicinity quarries of grindstone.
In its district, which extends to the sea, cattle are bred and various
productions cultivated. Two parishes of Indians are within its
precincts, with the title of missions.
Propiha, originally called Urubu de Baixo, created a town in 1800,
is twenty-five miles above the preceding, upon the margin of the
same river, between two lakes of great disproportion; the smaller, of
a circular figure and sixty fathoms in diameter, may hereafter be in
the centre of the town, when it has experienced that augmentation of
which its advantageous situation renders it so susceptible. It is near
a valley opened by the diversifying hand of nature across a plain,
appearing more like a human operation, and by which the river at all
times extends an arm to the centre of a campinha of more than eight
miles in length, and of proportionate width, that becomes a large and
handsome lake, abounding with fish during the period of the floods. It
has a market every week, where its inhabitants provide themselves
with those necessaries which the sterility of its environs denies them.
The church, which was formerly a chapel of St. Antonio, besides
being the only place of public worship in the town, is very small and
poor. The western limits of its district are the same as those that
bound the province. The principal revenue of the camara is the
product of the public sale of fish, which enter periodically into the
temporary lake, the mouth of the valley being barricadoed with mats
of cane, to prevent their return to the river with the receding waters.
Within the district of this town is the parish of St. Pedro, situated
upon the margin of the St. Francisco, in a flat country, and which
becomes an island immediately the river begins to swell. It consists
of eighty families, almost generally Indians, for whom it was
exclusively founded. The colony is composed of two tribes. The
Romaris, who are the remains of the native aborigines, and the
Ceococes, from the vicinity of the serra of Pao d’ Assucar, (Sugar
Loaf,) fifteen miles distant from the province of Pernambuco. Even at
the present day, they are repugnant to the intermarriage of one with
the other. The women labour daily in the manufacture of
earthenware, which they dry or complete on Saturday evening, with
a large fire upon a piece of ground appropriated to the purpose. The
husbands hunt, fish, or plant some mandioca, according as their
caprice dictates, loitering about the greater part of their time, and
consuming in cachassa (spirit) the main portion of the product of the
labour of their industrious wives. In the vicinity of this parish were
found, a few years ago, bones of a vast size; the species of animal
which afforded them are extinct.
Lagarto, situated in a plain seventy miles to the west of the
capital, is a middling town, and famous for its quarry of flint stone. It
has a church dedicated to Our Lady of Piedade, (Piety.) In its
environs are raised cattle, cotton, mandioca, &c.; and in its district is
the famous Campo of Creoilo, eight miles in extent, affording
pasturage for numerous herds of cattle, and where are many emu-
ostriches and seriemas, with other birds.
Thomar, antecedently Geru, well situated in a flat district, and
enjoying a salubrious atmosphere, with good water, has a handsome
church dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Socorro, which belonged to
the Jesuits. It is five miles from the Rio Real; and the inhabitants,
principally Indians, cultivate cotton, legumes, and mandioca. They
always select a white man and an Indian for judges.
The distinguished and considerable arraial of Laranjeiras,
(Orange Groves,) most advantageously situated upon the left bank
of the river Cotindiba, and eight miles above its confluence with the
Seregipe, is not yet a parish, but in time it most probably will become
one of the principal towns of the province. Large sumacas visit it for
cargoes of sugar, cotton, hides, and legumes.
In the district of the town of St. Amaro, about eight miles to the
north of it, is the arraial of Nossa Senhora of Rozario, which derived
its name from a chapel of this name, agreeably situated near the
small river Ciriri, traversed by a road conducting to the port of
Moruim, and which is one of the most frequented in the country.
Besides the parochials of the towns mentioned, there are only
three parishes: Our Lady of Socorro, (Succour,) filial of the capital;
Our Lady of Campos do Rio Real, filial of the town of Lagarto; and
St. Gonçalo do Pe do Banco.
Upon the coast of this province there are no capes, islands, or
ports, excepting those within the rivers, the bars of which are
generally more or less dangerous, and afford passage only to
sumacas. The men are of all complexions. The Mesticos are the
most robust: of this class was Christovam de Mendonca, who, at the
end of the year 1806, when he had completed his one hundred and
twenty-eighth year, still exercising the business of a potter in the
aldeia of Aracaju, near the mouth of the river Cotindiba, gave a
relation of the revolt alluded to at the commencement of this chapter,
and died two years afterwards.
 CHAP. XVII.
PROVINCE OF PERNAMBUCO.

Voyage from Rio de Janeiro—First Donatories—Taken by the Dutch—

Restoration—Reversion to the Crown—Indians—Boundaries—
Mountains—Colony of Negroes—Mineralogy—Zoology—
Phytology—Rivers—Islands—Comarcas of Ollinda, Recife,
Alagoas—Povoações—Ouvidoria of the Certam of Pernambuco
—Rivers—Towns—Recife, or Pernambuco—Ollinda—Mattutos—
State of Society—Apathy—Environs—Revolution in 1817—
Military Government—Adoption of a New Constitution—Holidays
—Produce—Inspection—Sugar Engenho—Contribution Fund—
Population—Fribourg House.
On the 14th of November, I proceeded on board the brig
Columbine, Captain Thomson, lying in the bay of Rio de Janeiro, for
the purpose of visiting Pernambuco. A contrary wind prevented our
departure for five days. The party on board consisted of Colonel
Cotter, his lady and children, Captain Rezende, and Mons. Garay. By
way of rendering our detention less tedious, we made two or three
excursions to the eastern side of the bay. Our first visit was to the
small rocky island with the church of Boa Viagem situated on its
summit. We were denied access, from the orders of government,
that strangers were not to be admitted up the steep, in consequence
of a new fort then erecting upon it. We were therefore excluded from
the blessing usually granted at this church to persons upon the point
of undertaking a voyage. It was formerly the general custom, and is
at present not uncommon, for navigators and others previously to
embarking upon the ocean, to present offerings here, receiving in
return the prayers of the padre for a good voyage; and hence the
place is called Boa Viagem.
The boat proceeded round this island into the bay of Jurufuba, for
the purpose of obtaining an additional supply of water. We walked
round the back of the hills that edge this bay to the fountain, where
the water-casks were filled. Our road led by a delightful pathway
embowered by verdant trees intermixed with orange, banana, and
other fruits. Here and there a house of good external appearance
was seen, and cultivation appeared to be making some progress.
We purchased a rich supply of fruits from a widow whose shacara
was well stored, and her daughter gratuitously presented us with
large bouquets of flowers, whose aromatic scents were gratefully
diffused in our cabin for some days. In the common apartment of the
widow’s dwelling, secluded in a profusion of trees, was the figure of
our Saviour, enclosed in a case with opened doors, illumined by a
lighted taper.
Our next excursion was to a small opening between two
headlands, not far from the fort of St. Cruz, containing a solitary
white cottage, exhibiting much neatness at a distance: we soon,
however, discovered that, like most Brazilian residences, its external
appearance was not a proof of its internal comfort. There was only
one pathway, conducting from this little praya, up a steep rocky
mountain, on the summit of which we found a grey-headed old man,
seated, with his black boy, and enjoying the varied scenery around.
He said, that he frequently came from the city across the bay in a
canoe to this retired situation. We descended the opposite side of
the mountain, by a narrow and damp avenue, obscured by the
meeting of rocks high above our heads, on emerging from which we
found our progress stopped by two distinct precipices of granite; it
was necessary to cross the first in an oblique direction to arrive at
the second, an unlucky slip from which would have precipitated the
passenger one hundred feet into the sea. We observed a rope
hanging over its side, but could not imagine that it was the only
descent into the valley below, until we returned to the old man, who
informed us that there was no other way, and sent his boy to show
us the mode of descending: with both hands he laid hold of the rope,
which was imperfectly secured to a bush, and traversed the first
precipice, stepping backwards and allowing the rope gradually to
pass through his hands. Arrived at the second precipice, which was
to be descended perpendicularly, he took hold firmly of a stronger
rope, attached to a hanging tree, growing out of the interstices of the
two rocks; he proceeded backwards, moving one foot after the other,
horizontally placed against the side of the precipice, till he reached
the bottom. Colonel Cotter, Captain Thomson, and myself, took off
our shoes and proceeded in the same way, but the Colonel declined
accompanying us further than the first precipice, in consequence of a
wound received in his hand at the battle of Victoria. The valley we
found to be thinly planted with mandioca, which, with a few solitary
blacks and some miserable huts, was all that it presented to our
observation. We ascended the precipices by placing ourselves in the
same posture in which we had descended, and then returned with
the rest of the party, who were waiting for us, to the vessel, our
surprise being mutually excited at the extraordinary and intricate
mode of communication between the two prayinhas. Whilst we lay at
anchor, four Russian frigates entered the bay, in very fine order, and
took their stations not far from the British ships of war, the Superb
and Vengeur, then in the bay. The Russian frigates were proceeding
upon a voyage of discovery to the South Seas. On our departure
from the bay of Rio de Janeiro we had a favourable breeze, and in
five days were in the latitude of Bahia, having run upwards of ten
degrees of latitude, and seven of longitude. The wind now became
adverse; but in five days afterwards we passed Cabo Calor, Rio
Real, and Seregipe d’ el Rey, and on the following day were close in
with land, northward of the St. Francisco. The coast was flat and
covered with woods, a few huts being all that we could occasionally
discover.
 On Stone by C. Shoosmith from a Sketch by Jas. Henderson.
Printed by C. Hullmandel.
A JANGADA OR CATAMARAN NEAR PERNAMBUCO.
The currents we found setting in towards the coast much stronger
and to a more considerable degree, than any of the charts extant
account for. In the course of the 3d of December we indistinctly
perceived some catamarans near the beach, and at dusk discovered
Cape St. Augustine, affording us the hope of reaching Pernambuco
next morning. At day-break on the 4th, Cape St. Augustine,
Pernambuco, and Ollinda, were in view, with the land of the Cape
elevated and jutting out into the sea, but presenting nothing
remarkable. The coast near Pernambuco is flat, except some
elevations in the distant back ground, and Ollinda situated upon an
accumulation of rising eminences. On viewing it we could not but
acquiesce in the exclamation of the first donatory of this province, “O
que linda situacam para fundar huma villa.”[34] The whole country
from the sea appeared richly wooded and interspersed with the
cocoa-nut tree, and impressed the idea of fertility and cultivation.
The jangadas, or catamarans, now passed near us on all sides, with
their triangular sails, producing no inconsiderable surprise amongst
the whole party. They are constructed of eight, ten, and some of
twelve trunks of the buoyant jangada tree, rudely secured together
by wooden bolts passing horizontally through the whole, and with
cross-bars at the top, attaching the rafts more firmly together. The
trunks are not of uniform length, and, being almost hid amongst the
waves, would not be discovered at all without the sail and the two
men who navigate them. The waves pass through the apertures
between each trunk, and the men are constantly standing in water,
one of whom steers with a large paddle passed indiscriminately
between the ends of two of the rafts. Thus cotton and sugar from the
places upon the coast and from the rivers are conveyed to the
capital. Voyages of several hundred miles are performed by
jangadas. An English gentleman proceeded to sea in one of them
from Parahiba to Pernambuco, a small table was attached to the
rafts upon which he slept, and although the sea is generally washing
over them they are never known to upset. Our voyage had been an
extremely pleasant one, and each individual had expressed the
highest gratification not only at the mutual good humour that had
prevailed, but the very great attention of the captain. The party
frequently met on shore afterwards, and I received many civilities
from Colonel Cotter and his lady during my stay at Pernambuco. The
Colonel, before my departure, was appointed to the command of the
militia regiments formed by the population of the town. We will defer
speaking of the city of Pernambuco, or Recife, till we have concluded
the description of the province.
This province was presented as a captaincy, with less extent of
territory than it now contains, to Duarthe Coelho Pereyra, in reward
for having repulsed the French from the river St. Cruz, re-
establishing the factory which had been destroyed by them, and
rendering other important services to the Portuguese government.
The letter of donation was granted to him in 1534; and in the
following year he set sail from Portugal, accompanied by his wife
and some other families, who joined him for the purpose of
colonization.[35]
The small village of Hyguarassu, which had its origin about four
years before, was for some time the place of his residence, till
Ollinda was begun, which he made his capital soon after its
foundation. He was engaged in continued wars with the Cahetes,
who were the former inhabitants of the country. He died in the year
1554, leaving his wife, D. Brittes d’Albuquerque, in trust of the
government of the captaincy till the arrival of his hereditary son
Duarthe Coelho d’Albuquerque, who was pursuing his studies in
Portugal, and which he left in 1560 by orders of Queen Catharine, to
protect the colony from the danger with which it was threatened by
the revolt of some tribes of Indians whom his father had reduced to
obedience.
The new donatory took with him his brother Jorge d’Albuquerque
Coelho, and was accompanied by many friends and hired attendants
to his new settlement, and had the promise of others to follow him for
the purpose of augmenting the colony. He subjugated the whole
nation of the Cahetes and divided them into hordes; and after a
residence of many years returned to Europe, in order to accompany
D. Sebastiano in his voyage to Africa, leaving his brother
administrator of the captaincy, which progressively improved under
his management.
In failure of male issue he was succeeded by his brother Jorge
d’Albuquerque Coelho, father of Duarthe d’Albuquerque Coelho, who
in the second year after the Dutch had possession of the captaincy
arrived there with the Count Banholo, where he remained till the end
of 1638, when he returned to Portugal. During his residence he kept
a diary of the first eight years of the war.[36]
Duarthe d’Albuquerque Coelho had an only daughter, married to
the Count de Vimiozi D. Miguel de Portugal, but neither he nor his
heirs received any revenue from the captaincy, the dominion of
which was disputed; for King John IV. who had expended large sums
in its restoration, finding that the donatory had not forces sufficient to
prevent the invasion of the enemy, should they make a second
attempt, annexed the captaincy to the crown in the first year of its
restoration. This the donatory opposed, and his heirs sustained an
obstinate suit at law for many years, obtaining various sentences in
their favour, which were always abrogated, till finally they desisted
from the contest, surrendering whatever right they had to the
province; and, in 1717, by the intervention and consent of John V. a
convention was made between the Count de Vimiozi D. Francisco de
Portugal and the attorney-general, in which it was agreed that the
Count should receive in exchange for the captaincy the marquisate
of Vallenca for himself and his son, the countship to pass to his son
and grandson, and eighty thousand crusades, to be paid from the
revenues of the province in ten years at equal payments.
The new colonists, who were sent to it immediately after the
restoration of the province, gave it a rapid improvement. The Indians
living towards the interior, the principal of whom were Tupinambas,
and divided into numerous tribes, were by degrees surrendering the
country and allying themselves to the conquerors, or retiring to the
western districts. The latter were reduced about the years 1802 and
1803.
These Indians were divided into four nations, who have always
exhibited the most irreconcileable hatred to each other, and to this
day preserve their ancient animosity undiminished. They were
distinguished by the appellations of Pipipan, Choco, Uman, and
Vouvé. The language of each differed in idiom, but the general
resemblance between them sufficiently demonstrated that they
sprung from the same origin. They occupied a wild and uncultivated
tract of country, of thirty square leagues, between the rivers Moxoto
and Pajehu, near to the serra of Ararippa, a country sterile and
deficient in water. All are wandering tribes, ignorant of any kind of
agriculture, and support themselves on wild fruits, honey, and game;
a hog, a deer, or a bird are all dressed with the hair, feathers, and
intestines. The arms of the men are a bow and arrow, and they go
perfectly naked. The women cover themselves with a small and
elastic net, or with a deep fringe of thick thread much twisted, and
made with considerable ingenuity. They inter their dead in a bent
posture, having no instruments to make a grave sufficiently large to