NIEUHOFF*S BRAZIL. 863 



upon it as a proper remedy to cut the rough phlegm of the ftomach, a diftemper very- 

 common In thofe parts. The Brazilians, as well as the Dutch, chew this pepper for 

 the fame purpofe, but it is very burning upon the tongue. 



The fugar-canes or reeds, called by the Brazilians Viba, are the produfl: both of the 

 Weft and Eaft Indies, but grow in great plenty throughout all Brazil, but efpecially 

 in the captainfhip of Pernambuko. They are of two different kinds, one bearing fmall, 

 the other larger leaves. The laft, which is accounted the beft, fprouts up into a long 

 flem of the thicknefs of a child's arm, the leaves growing all on the top in a clufter, 

 being of an oval figure, and a dark-blue colour. The rind is diftinguifhed by certain 

 joints or knots ; the other kind bears fmall leaves from the top to the bottom. The 

 fugar-canes are propagated from their fmall fprouts, which being put in the ground like 

 our vines^ grow up to the height of twelve foot, if they are planted in good foil, and 

 are kept free from weeds. Six months after they have been planted, a brown feed 

 appears on the top ; then it is fit to be cut ; for if they ftand longer in the ground their 

 juice diminilhes, dries up, and turns four. The juice, if taken immediately after it is 

 drawn, caufes a loofenefs. The low grounds are much more convenient for the plant- 

 ing of fugar-reeds than the hills, efpecially near the river fide, where thg banks are 

 overflown by the ftream. There are a certain kind of winged worms, called Guirapea- 

 koka by the Brazilians, and Pao de Galinha by the Portuguefe, which are great ene- 

 mies to the fugar-canes, efpecially in moift grounds, where they gnaw and confume the 

 roots. The fugar, which is the produ6; of thefe canes, is not procured without a 

 great deal of toil and labour, in which, for the moft part, are employed flaves, under 

 the tuition of certain overfeers appointed by the mafters of the fugar-mills, who were 

 for the moft part Portuguefe, the Dutch being hitherto not arrived to the utmoft per- 

 fection in that art. In the captainfhip of Pernambuko, many fine Ingenhos or fugar- 

 mills, with their adjacent plantations, were ere6led for this purpofe, amounting, in all, 

 to above one hundred in number, and the labourers, negroes, and other African flaves 

 thereunto belonging, to near forty thoufand. The whole yearly produdt of fugar of 

 the Dutch Brazil is computed to be betwixt two hundred and two hundred and fifty thou- 

 fand chefts. 



In the year 1642, one Gillin Venant brought fpme indigo-feed from the American 

 iflands into Brazil, who having certain lands afligned him near the fmall river Mercera, 

 and being provided with all other conveniences by the fpecial command of the great 

 council, ereded feveral plantations for the producing of Aniel or indigo : but it being 

 found by experience, that the pifmires confumed moft of the leaves, the faid Mr. Ve- 

 nant, by employing many labourers and negroes, to deftroy thefe pifmires with burn- 

 ing and digging, at laft fo well cleared the ground, that the indigo came to its full per- 

 fection, feveral patterns of which werefent into Holland. Mr. Venant having made an 

 agreement with Mr. Chriftopher Eyerfhettel to inftru6l him in the moft neceffary points 

 relating to the coagulating the indigo, he was treating with the great council concerning 

 certain grounds for the planting of indigo, fo that there was a fair profpeft of bringing 

 this defign to a confiderable perfeftion here, if the fame had not been prevented by the 

 inteftine war. 



The wild anIel, which grows in Brazil in great plenty, has a great refemblance to 

 the true indigo in outward appearance, but affords no good colours. Some pretend to 

 have feen alfo a kind of wild cochineal in Brazil, and the ground would produce good 

 ftore of cotton, but that the inhabitants draw much more profit from the fugar- 

 plantations, 



3 Some 



