Chap. VII. MAMELUCO FARMERS. 317 



the Ai'aras was provoked by a trader from Barra, who 

 wantonly fired into a family of them, killing the 

 parents, and carrying oif their children to be employed 

 as domestic servants. 



We remained nine days at the sitio of Senhor Joao 

 Trinidade. It is situated on a tract of high Ygapo land, 

 which is raised, however, only a few inches above high- 

 water mark. This skirts the northern shore for a long 

 distance ; the soil consisting of alluvium and rich vege- 

 table mould, and exhibiting the most exuberant fertility. 

 Such districts are the first to be settled on in this 

 country, and the whole coast for many miles was dotted 

 with pleasant-looking sitios like that of our friend. 

 The establishment was a large one, the house and out- 

 buildings covering a large space of gi^ound. The indus- 

 trious proprietor seemed to be Jack-of-all-trades ; he 

 was planter, trader, fisherman, and canoe-builder, and 

 a large igarite was now on the stocks under a large 

 shed. There was greater pleasure in contemplating this 

 prosperous farm from its being worked almost entirely 

 by free labour ; in fact, by one family, and its depend- 

 ents. Joao Trinidade had only one female slave ; his 

 other workpeople were a brother and sister-in-law, two 

 godsons, a free negro, one or two Indians, and a family 

 of Muras. Both he and his wife were mamelucos ; the 

 negro children called them always father and mother. 

 The order, abundance, and comfort about the place, 

 shoAved what industry and good management could 

 effect in this country without slave-labour. But the 

 surplus produce of such small plantations is very trifling. 



