FESTIVAL. 



25 



taken possession of the land. The hillocks un- 

 der which they had formed their nests were in- 

 numerable ; some of these were four feet in 

 height, and ten or twelve in circumference ; 

 others were of less dimensions, and some of 

 them might be larger. Some ruins of the mill 

 are still to be seen at Engenho Velho, and there 

 is a pond near to them of considerable depth, of 

 which tradition says, that great riches lie con- 

 cealed at the bottom. I also heard of an old 

 African negro, who has been manumitted, and 

 now practises the arts of a Mandingueiro, in 

 this neighbourhood. Among the lower or- 

 ders of people I have heard his powers dis- 

 cussed. It is said, that he can cause the death 

 of any one who is pointed out to him ; the un- 

 fortunate person will linger for a long time, but 

 his destruction is inevitable. This old man is 

 likewise a fortune-teller, and is applied to in 

 cases of unrequited love. 



In March took place the yearly festival of our 

 Lady of the Rosary, which was directed by 



•' The being an island, the ants, and G nodes. " " Que tc 

 persegue ilhai Ilka, formiga, Guedes." Or in other words, 

 the inconvenience occasioned by being obliged to cross the 

 channel from the main land ; the ants, which sufficiently 

 explain for themselves ; and Guedes ; — these were a family 

 of unquiet spirits who resided in the island, and kept it in 

 perpetual turbulence from their quarrels. The remains still 

 exist ; but now they are good and peaceable subjects. 



