142 



AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



water supply. During long droughts the population is sometimes doubled by 

 refuo-ees from the countr3^ In 1878 it was thus suddenly increased to nearly 

 60,000, of whom 23,250 were carried off in two months by sumll-pox, famine, and 

 privations of all sorts. 



To give employment to the sufferers the tortuous railway was taken in hand 

 and completed in eighteen months, which now ascends from Ceara by an extremely 



Fig. 51. — Cape S. Roque. 

 Scale 1 : 200,000. 



Dep'iis. 



to 10 

 Feet. 



10 to 16 



Feet. 



16 to 32 

 Feet. 



.32 Feet 

 and upwards. 



5 Miles. 



steep gradient over the rocky hills some 60 miles southwards to the town of 

 Baturité. A branch line runs westward to Maranguapé, noted for its oranges, vast 

 quantities of which are now exported to England. Ceara itself forwards cotton, 

 the wax of the carnauba palm, caju wine, goat skins and ox hides. Ceara was 

 the first place to get rid of slavery, which had to be abolished because the people 

 were liberating the slaves by force, sheltering them, and plundering the planta- 

 tions. 



