m 



32 



PASMADO. 



much broader than near to Conception; but 

 there is a bank near to the centre of it, upon 

 which, when the tide is out, the horses regain 

 their footing; but still the passage is distressing 

 to the beasts; however we reached the opposite 

 bank in safety.* Here stands the village of 

 Itapisuma, which consists of a long street, situ- 

 ated near to the water's edge, and running 

 parallel with the channel; it is composed of small 

 low houses. A narrow path took us to the vil- 

 lage of Pasmado, a distance of two leagues, 

 where we entered the great cattle road ; we 

 crossed the river of Araripe, passed through the 

 village of Bu, and about mid-day stopped at the 

 hamlet of Fontainhas. Here I put up at a cot- 

 tage, and on enquiry found that there was some 

 dried meat to be sold at a neighbouring hut ; 

 some of this was purchased, and was cooked for 

 me by the good woman of the cottage. 



The people of Pasmado are famous for their 

 proficiency in the working of iron. The knives 

 which are made at that place are in great request 

 all over the country, and although those are a 

 prohibited article, as I have before mentioned, 

 still they are made publicly at Pasmado, and in- 

 deed at many other places in the country. 



* In 1646, after the Portuguese had taken possession of 

 the guard-ship at Os Marcos, they proceeded to that which 

 was stationed at Itapisuma or Tapissuma, and this was burnt 

 by the Dutch. — History of Brazil, vol. ii. p. 177- 



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