Travels In The Interior Of Brazil - free ebook by John Mawe

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Travels In The Interior Of Brazil

John Mawe

23 chapters

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23 chapters

TRAVELS

TRAVELS

IN THE INTERIOR OF BRAZIL; WITH NOTICES ON ITS CLIMATE, AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE, POPULATION, MINES, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS: AND A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE GOLD AND DIAMOND DISTRICTS. INCLUDING A VOYAGE TO THE RIO DE LA PLATA . BY JOHN MAWE. SECOND EDITION. ILLUSTRATED WITH COLORED PLATES. London: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER ROW; AND SOLD BY THE AUTHOR, 149, STRAND. 1822. W. M’Dowall Printer, Pemberton Row Gough Square. PALACE &amp; GREAT SQUARE IN RIO DE JAN

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES,

TRAVEL S, &amp;c. &amp;c. &amp;c. Voyage to Cadiz and thence to the Rio de la Plata. Adventures at Monte Video.—Character of the Inhabitants.—Trade.—Climate.—Geological Remarks.—Recent Changes.—Monte Video under the Portugueze.—Agriculture and Trade at the Rio de la Plata. IN the year 1804, I was induced to undertake a voyage of commercial experiment, on a limited scale, to the Rio de la Plata. On my arrival at Monte Video, the ship and cargo were seized; I was thrown into prison, an

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CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.

As the recital of a voyage is proverbially tedious and superfluous, I shall forbear to trouble the reader with any detail of mine, and shall merely state, that, after encountering many difficulties at Cadiz, in consequence of the rupture with Spain, I sailed for the Plata, and having narrowly escaped shipwreck from a tremendous storm near the mouth of that river, entered the harbour of Monte Video. The hardships I experienced in reaching this ill-fated port, were a fit prelude to the misfortunes

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CHAP. II.

CHAP. II.

The limestone is loosened by the wedge and lever, and brought away in large slabs to the kilns, where it is broken into fragments of a convenient size, and burnt with wood. The kilns are very capacious, but so badly constructed that the process of calcination is very slow and tedious. The lime, when slaked, is measured, put into sacks made of green hides, and sent in large carts, drawn by oxen, principally to Colonia del Sacramento, Monte Video, and Buenos Ayres. Barriga Negra is distant about 1

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CHAP. III.

CHAP. III.

3. Mestizos, the offspring of European and Indian parents. 4. Indians, almost all of whom have some mixture of Spanish blood. 5. Brown mixtures of Africans and Europeans. 6. Mulattos of various degrees. All these races intermix without restraint, so that it is difficult to define the minor gradations, or to assign limits to the ever-multiplying varieties. Few families are entirely exempt from characteristics of Indian origin, physical as well as moral. It is well known that in the Spanish coloni

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CHAP. IV.

CHAP. IV.

The surface of the island is varied with mountains, plains, and in some places swamps; here is found a stratum of excellent red clay, which is manufactured into jars, culinary vessels, large water-pots, &amp;c. which are exported in considerable quantities to the Plata and to Rio de Janeiro. The lands capable of cultivation are under considerable improvement; a great extent of them was formerly covered with large trees, but as great quantities have of late years been cut down and used for sh

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CHAP. V.

CHAP. V.

Here are few manufactures of any consequence; a little coarse cotton is spun by the hand, and woven into cloth, which serves for a variety of wearing apparel, sheets, &amp;c. They make a beautiful kind of net-work for hammocks, which are fringed with lace, and form an elegant piece of furniture, being slung low, so as to answer the purpose of sofas. The ladies are particularly fond of using them, especially when the heat of the weather disposes them to ease and indolence. The making of lace

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CHAP. VI.

CHAP. VI.

The wind still blowing fresh against us, we rested awhile, and were amused by watching some fishermen haul their nets ashore with large draughts of cavallos in them. These fish weigh from fifteen to twenty pounds each, and are caught in great numbers along this coast. Passing point Toque Toque at noon, we entered the strait of St. Sebastian. Its width is about two leagues; the land on both sides is bold and steep, and being well cultivated has a very grand and rich appearance. The varied foliage

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CHAP. VII.

CHAP. VII.

The police is by no means ill regulated; and, from the attention which has been paid to it since the arrival of the court, there is every hope that it will be placed on a footing equally respectable with that of any European capital. The prisons are loathsome, and require the benevolent genius of a Howard to reform them altogether. One great step in favor of humanity has been gained: the inquisition has been abolished, and with it the spirit of persecution, so that no one can now be offended for

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CHAP. VIII.

CHAP. VIII.

The next morning we proceeded eastward, and crossing the stream, which was at least sixty yards broad and full three feet deep, rode along the farther margin, which is rather more elevated, and presents a view of some fine plains, stretching from thence to the base of the mountains. Journeying in that direction we reached the fine plantation of Captain Ferreira, who received us very politely, and shewed us every attention. This place, bounded by the alpine ridge behind it, is the extreme point t

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CHAP. IX.

CHAP. IX.

In one of the frequent excursions I took in the neighbourhood of Canta Gallo, previous to my journey to the reputed silver mine, I obtained some information respecting the half-civilized aborigines of the district, from a man who employs himself in procuring ipecacuanha, and is a kind of chief among them. They reside in the woods, in a most miserable condition; their dwellings, some of which I saw, are formed of boughs of trees, bent so as to hold a thatch or tiling of palm-leaves; their beds ar

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CHAP. X.

CHAP. X.

The river Abaité, from whence these pieces came, has produced one of an octahedral form, which weighs seven-eights of an ounce Troy, and is perhaps the largest diamond in the world. It was found about twelve years ago by three men who were under sentence of banishment for high crimes; but on presenting this valuable gem to the then Viceroy, they were pardoned and rewarded. It is now in the private possession of the Prince Regent. I was afterwards favored with a sight of the remaining diamonds in

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CHAP. XI.

CHAP. XI.

Villa Rica soon enjoyed a considerable trade with Rio de Janeiro; the returns were negroes, iron, woollens, salt, provisions of various kinds, and wine, all which at that time bore amazingly high profits. About the year 1713, when Dr. Bras da Silva was appointed governor, the quantity of gold produced was so considerable that the royal fifth amounted to above half a million sterling annually. The mountain became pierced like a honey-comb, as the miners worked every soft part they could find, and

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CHAP. XII

CHAP. XII

The discovery of the original gold mine in this rich sesmaria , is said to have been owing to the following accident. Some negroes employed in clearing the land, broke up an ant-hill of considerable size, when, on laying it open to the air, for the purpose of destroying or dispersing the insects, large grains of gold were found. It is, however, highly probable that the general characteristics of the soil had led to the discovery long before this period, and that the accident here related, served

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CHAP. XIII.

CHAP. XIII.

This rich river, formed by the junction of a number of streams which will be hereafter noted, is as wide as the Thames at Windsor, and in general from three to nine feet deep. The part now in working is a curve or elbow, from which the current is diverted into a canal cut across the tongue of land, round which it winds, the river being stopped just below the head of the canal by an embankment, formed of several thousand bags of sand. This is a work of considerable magnitude, and requires the co-

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CHAP. XIV.

CHAP. XIV.

Minas Novas is under the jurisdiction of the Ouvidor of Villa do Principe, who goes thither once a year to settle disputes, administer justice, and discharge other duties belonging to his office. At Tocaya the Jiquitinhonha flows into a larger river, called Rio Grande, which, taking an easterly direction, enters the sea in lat. 16° 20´ south, near Porto Seguro. A gentleman with whom I was acquainted undertook to navigate this fine river from Tocaya to the sea, and, as the current was rapid, he p

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CHAP. XV.

CHAP. XV.

The town is under the absolute government of the Intendant. The principal officers of the civil and military establishments are, an ouvidor or fiscal , a captain of cavalry, and a capitao mor . In the Diamond establishment there is a great number of officers, of whom the following are the principal: 1st, the Intendant, who is a judge, and intendant-general of the Diamond district (this office is one of the best in the gift of the crown): 2d. the Treasurer, whose situation is almost a sinecure; h

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CHAP. XVI.

CHAP. XVI.

The great quantities of gold, precious stones, iron, &amp;c. produced in this country have been largely treated upon. Lead ore appears to be rare, as it is found only near Abaité. Antimony abounds in the vicinity of Sabará; native bismuth is found near Villa Rica; arsenical and iron pyrites are very common; titanium is found in octahedral crystals, also in beautiful prisms and tender spicula, finely grouped in rock crystal. Platina may be obtained in tolerable quantities at Lagos, but the pl

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CHAP. XVII.

CHAP. XVII.

The climate is always warm, but is refreshed by the sea-breeze, and is in some degree tempered by the long absence of the sun, the nights being of almost uniform length throughout the year. Though hotter than Rio de Janeiro, Bahia is considered much more healthful, having a more airy situation, and being better supplied with water. The practice of bathing is very general, and most of the houses have conveniences for this purpose. Bahia is plentifully supplied with provisions. Beef and pork are i

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CHAP. XVIII.

CHAP. XVIII.

In some of these mines gold above twenty-three carats has been found, but the greater part is only of seventeen, and of a green color, being combined with a large portion of silver. The River Chingu , the clearest, and one of the largest and most copious branches of the Amazons, which it enters on the south side, after a course of three hundred leagues, in lat. 1° 42′, and long. 53°, seventy leagues west of the city of Pará, in a direct line, but one hundred of navigation, is confined in a great

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CHAP. XIX.

CHAP. XIX.

Tallow forms another considerable article of commerce, which in general is shipped in the crude state, and not refined, as in the river Plata. The greater part is consumed in Brazil, and the dealers find it preferable to refine the article on the spot, where they manufacture it into candles. It is packed in waste raw-hide packages. [77] Horns and horse-hair form an inferior branch of the commerce, and are shipped from this port in great quantities. The above are the staple productions of Rio Gra

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CHAP. XX.

CHAP. XX.

Owing to the incredible competition or struggle among our merchants, who should send most ships and cargoes to a country, whose civilized population, exclusive of slaves, did not exceed eight hundred thousand souls, (one-third, at least, of whom may be said to make use only of what their land produces), it is natural to suppose that the market would be almost instantly overstocked. So great and so unexpected was the influx of English manufactures into Rio de Janeiro, within a few days after the

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APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

View of the State of Society among the Middling Classes, employed in Mining and Agriculture. We are naturally led to imagine, that, in a country where mines of gold and diamonds are found, the riches of the inhabitants must be immense, and their condition most enviable; the Portuguese themselves, who reside in the mining districts, encourage this supposition; and whenever they go to Rio de Janeiro, do not fail to make all possible show and parade. But let us view them in the centre of their weal

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