BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 223 



province and Maranhao are soft and swampy, unlike those of 

 Bahia, Minas, and Rio Janeiro. Tiie horses seldom live 

 longer than twelve years; partly from the irregular supply of 

 fodder, and the violent transitions of climate to which they 

 are exposed ; and perhaps still more from the excessive fa- 

 tigue they endure when employed in hunting, on journeys, 

 and in quest of the strayed cattle. A disease to which they 

 are here very subject is, an enlargement of the rectum : it 

 often increases dreadfully before the poor animal dies of the 

 consequent inflammation. Horses tiiat suffer from this com- 

 plaint, analogous to what is here termed Bicho do cu in tiie 

 human subject, are called Cavallos rottos. 



The cattle belonging to the king are annually sold to the 

 highest bidder, the prices varying extremely: thus in 1818, 

 an ox fetched 5400 reis^ and the very next year, 8400. In 

 1818, the inspector of Caninde, which is the largest of all, sold 

 llOO head, which produced to the king eight contos de reis, 

 (or 22,233 ^on«s.) The odiers are not nearly so profitable; 

 but they may be considered to sell altogether annually about 

 3000 oxen, that, fetching 6000 reis each, give an amount oi 

 18 contos de reis, as the revenue from the three Inspections. 

 Doubtless a much greater income might be derived from the 

 source, if the Fazendeiros were content to use a smaller 

 number of the cattle themselves; for, in successful years many 

 of the Fazendas rear from 700 to 800, and not unfrequently 

 1000 young bullocks a-piece in the season ; but a vast num- 

 ber are slain for the support of the servants; many calves 

 perish from eating deleterious plants, from the attacks of 

 venomous insects, bloodthirsty bats, and voracious ounces; 

 while poisonous snakes annually destroy a considerable por- 

 tion of the young breed. And although many of the cattle- 

 yards have twenty slaves, half of which would suffice to take 

 care of a herd consisting of 1000 head ; yet none of these peo- 

 ple are employed in raising maize and mandlocca for food, 

 but subsist entirely on the flesh of the cattle. 



In short, it may be fairly said, that in no country where 

 nature is so lavish of her bounties, is man so wasteful and 



