212 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



mules. The further we diverged from the course of tlie 

 river next day, the more uneven did the face of the country 

 become. It was everywhere intersected with ditches, which, 

 communicating with the river, are designed for the purposes 

 of irrigation, and Iieing now filled with rain-water, and of 

 great length, proved great hinderances to our progress. More 

 than once, we were obliged to cross these ditches, at the risk 

 of soaking our packages. Their banks, and often their 

 channels, are full of the same vegetation as prevails on the 

 shores of the Rio San Francisco ; prickly trees, strong thick 

 climbing plants and the Algadisso. Where the view opened 

 sufficiently to show us tiie meadows, we were charmed with 

 the rich and even verdure of their grassy carpet. The inha- 

 bitants call these tracts Campos Mimosos, and cut the smooth 

 soft stalks which abound in them for the use of their nume- 

 rous herds of cattle. Here we first entered those districts 

 which are devoted to the rearing of cattle, and which may 

 be appropriately termed the Switzerland of Brazil. Where- 

 ever we took up our lodging for the night, the people brought 

 us milk of rich and excellent flavour, and possessing tiie 

 same good qualities as in the more southern districts ; for it 

 is only in times of extreme drought, that it ever becomes 

 thin, gummy and blue. A cow gives from three to four 

 measures of milk, which is only drawn once in twenty-four 

 hours, and in the morning. Butter, which is good, is never 

 made, except in tiie first month of the rains, here called the 

 green (verde) season. 



The generous animal diet, together with the employments 

 of the Se/ia?ieJos in this and the more northern districts, 

 exert a powerful influence on their character and constitu- 

 tion. A gay, openhearted, expression of countenance is 

 quite remarkable in the round happy faces of those well-fed, 

 strong and laborious people. Their business of keeping the 

 herds of cattle together, protecting them from the wild ani- 

 mals, catching them when required, &c., inures their bodies to 

 much fatigue and great endurance, so that the traveller is 

 surprised to see, amid these sultry tropical regions, a race o^ 



