252 THE LIFE OF 



pare ic as a fubflitutc for bread, they employ x 

 fort of mill, which carries a large circular 

 grater; this machine reduces thcfarinha rather 

 to little lumps than to the ftate of flour, and it 

 i& thus eaten by the country people, either 

 alone, or mixed up with cold water into a fort 

 of pafle. When the Portuguefe fhips of war are 

 on the Brazil ftation, it is ferved out to the 

 people under the name of farinha de giierra % 

 they feem to like it much, and foretimes eat it 

 baked with fugar or treacle, when it forms a 

 fort of fweetmeat, fa.r from difagreeable. Fa^ 

 rinha and bananas^ which are equally plentiful, 

 form almoft the fole food of the negroes; and 

 all the inhabitants, without diftin(5tion, are fo 

 accuftomed to it, that very little bread is made 

 life of. 



Having Vv-aited to refrefh ourfelves during the 

 heat of the day, we proceeded on our route, and 

 in the evening reached a river which it was necef- 

 fary we (hould crofs, in order that we might pro- 

 cure quarters at a guard-houfe that has been 

 buik on the oppofite fide. It was fp dark that 

 we could not be feen by the guard on the other 

 jide, who are placed there to ferry paffengers 

 acrofs in canoes, and the river was fo broad that 

 we could not make ourfelves heard. Notwith- 

 ftanding the rapidity of the ftream my fervant 

 ftripped and fwam over ; he found the foldiers, 



"yvho 



