BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 35 
ltapicura, on the road between this city and Maranham. 
Since then, every arrival from that quarter brings intelligence 
of the rapid increase of their numbers and the nature of their 
designs. A short while ago, a body of about 100 soldiers 
were sent from Maranham to disperse them, the whole of 
which by some mismanagement were made prisoners, and 
their lieutenant-colonel and captain put to the sword. . It is 
but a few days since an express was despatched from Cachias 
to the Baron de Parnahiba, entreating him to send all the 
troops to the former place, (and the said troops are sadly few 
in number and present a most unsoldierly appearance,) at 
the same time communicating the following alarming news : 
—These brigands (they call themselves patriots!) are en- 
camped about 100 leagues below Cachias, and are said now 
to number nearly 2000 men, abundantly supplied with arms 
and ammunition. Their leader, a man of colour, is reported 
to be a most blood-thirsty wretch, and only an instrument in 
the hands of the party opposed to the present government 
in Maranham. As might be expected, all the vagabonds in 
the country are hastening to join the rebels, who are expected 
to make an attack shortly on Cachias, where there are no 
forces to resist them. In Europe, 2000 men would be con- 
sidered as nothing, but in these thinly peopled and thickly 
wooded countries, it will cost much difficulty to get the 
. better of them, especially as there are almost no troops in the 
north of Brazil, the greater part being occupied in quelling 
the revolution that has broken out in the province of Rio 
Grande do Sul. The last post from Cachias to Campo 
Maior, was made prisoner and all the letters examined ; but 
as he carried no official despatches, he was permitted to pro- 
ceed. More recently still, a young man, a native of this 
place, who is established as a merchant in Cachias, was coming 
up from; Maranham in a large canoe, with about £2000-worth 
-of goods, he was made prisoner, and robbed of all his pro- 
perty. He isstill, if yet alive, in their hands, but his friends - 
fear the wretches have destroyed him. Such being the 
state of the country, I I shall wait as "e as pomiblnes where I - v 
