222 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



procure every necessary of life for themselves, from the pro- 

 duce of the cultivated land, and cattle which they rear ; for 

 doing which they are provided with ample advantages. 

 They likewise receive a tenth of all the young cattle which 

 they breed. 



With regard to the breeding of animals, which is the staple 

 trade, if I may so call it, of these provinces, its success, or 

 otherwise, wholly depends on the quantity of rain which falls 

 in the season. Should the wet weather commence in the end 

 of December, and attaining its greatest height in February, 

 continue uninterrupted till it gradually decrease in the close of 

 April, the numerous rivers, ponds and ditches, are then filled 

 with water; the ground becomes soft, and pasturage is good 

 and abundant. During this period the coivs, which at other 

 times, like all the cattle here, remain in the open field, are 

 driven into the enclosures, where they stay at night, and are 

 milked, for the purpose of making cheese, every morning. 

 From the month of May, the cows are again permitted to go 

 at large in the fields. It sometimes happens that the month 

 of February passes without rain, when it becomes impossible 

 to make cheese, from the small quantity and poor quality of 

 the milk; in which case all the herds of cattle except a few 

 cows for the use of the Fazendeiro's family, are left in the 

 open meadows ; and great sickness is sure to occur among 

 the horned stock, which decreases as rapidly as it had in- 

 creased during the fertile years, when there was abundance 

 of water. The ox of this country is large and well-shaped, 

 distinguished by his long, pointed, and twisting horns, which 

 stand wide apart, as well as by the variety of its colour. 

 The horse is not of an equally good race with the cattle ; it 

 is seldom more than middle-sized, has weak bones, and is 

 short-lived. Those colls which are handsomely shaped are 

 broken in with extreme care. In order to accustom the 

 animal to step firmly, and lift his feet Ijigh, a broad round 

 cushion is placed above the fetlock, and the hoof is suffered 

 to grow very long, the latter being also useful in saving 

 shoes; for the horses are rarely shod here. The roads in this 



