Capuchin Missions of the Caroiii. 273 



newed every two years ; his boiler consisted of one miserable 

 iron kettle, in which the cane juice was boiled, not into sugar, 

 but into a thick sirop, which, poured into small holes cut in a 

 block of timber, formed little papellones, or loaves, not detached 

 from the melasses. In lieu of a cask, an immense block had 

 been hollowed out, to form a cooler for the worm of the still, 

 and other things on the same footing. Yet his rum and sugar 

 were better in quality, and more in quantity, than those of any 

 neighbouring planter. The works, worm included, were of his 

 own contrivance ; and he had invented a plough of hard wood, 

 the only one in all the province, with which he prepared his 

 ground for planting. It was worked with two oxen, and was 

 of two pieces only, in this form. 



With this rude, but ingenious machine, he contrived to work 

 1,500 yards of a rich light surface. Tarife had once 13 slaves 

 on this property, but most of them had been taken off; the 

 remainder were all affected with the fever, and his canes rotting 

 on the ground. He assured us this little estate yielded about 

 2,000 dollars per annum, besides supplying all the wants of his 

 family in town. No doubt, any produce might be raised here ; 

 but the difficulty of communicating with the river is a serious 

 evil. A bad road, of 16 leagues at least, across a tremendous 

 range of hills, renders it impossible to transport any thing above 

 a mule's burden. It cost him the labour of 30 men, for jBve 

 days, to bring up a still. He was endeavouring to hire a few 

 Indians, at one rial per day. Returned with our host in the 



afternoon. U had been taking bark all day, and was 



much better. 



7th. Remained at home drawing a bark tree : patients mend- 

 ing, all but one, rather refractory. 



8th. Determined to ride over and visit Lauda, at Cupapuy. 

 Accordingly, took a southward direction across the savanna 

 for about a league : found on its skirt a few scattered huts. 



