MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2^^ 



catches another, which he immediately mounts. 

 Their elegance is very great ; even the privates 

 having their large fpurs and their fword hilts of 

 mafllve filver. 



The inhabitants of the province of Rio Grande 

 differ confiderably from thofe of the reft of 

 Brazil, as well as from thofe of Portugal ; they 

 are adlive and induftrious ; remarkably hofpi- 

 table to ftrangers, and exhibit flrong marks of 

 cheerfulnefs and good temper in every look. 



We refted at Torres one day as had been 

 agreed upon, and our guide finding himfelf ca- 

 pable of travelling we refumed our march. We 

 fet out at day-light, and immediately on quitting 

 Torres entered the Captanihaoi Santa Catherinha. 

 Our route lay along the fea fhore, and about 

 noon we came to an hut where we could procure 

 noprovifions except milk and a little rum, fo that 

 we were compelled to dine upon this and a little 

 farinha which we carried with us. 



As I may have occafion to mention the 

 farinha again, it will not be, perhaps, wandering 

 too far from my line to give fom.e account of 

 this fingular produdion. The Portuguefe call 

 \t farinha de paoy ox flour of wood^ and prepare it 

 from the root of a fhrubby plant, every where 

 to be found in Brazil ; the root is fucculent, and 

 about an inch in diameter at largeft. When 

 roafted it taftes very like a potatoes but to pre- 

 pare 



