.IL'IZ ORDINARIO. 



21 



from the shore, opening into the second or smaller 

 inclosure, which has likewise an entrance on the 

 land side, from which runs a fence of basket- 

 work to high water mark. Thus the fish that 

 come in contact with this fence naturally con- 

 tinue along it, in expectation of finding an 

 opening by which to escape, until they unin- 

 tentionally enter the pen. The jangadas also 

 go out to sea, and fish with the hook and line, 

 and many kinds of nets are used. Yet there is 

 at times a great scarcity of fish, which is ren- 

 dered by the ordinances of the Romish church 

 an absolute necessary of life. I was introduced 

 at Pillar to a Portuguese gentleman of great 

 respectability, from whom I received in the 

 sequel much civility; the vicar also made me 

 acquainted with a gentlemanly Brazilian priest, 

 who was a young and well-educated man. The 

 former of these persons had been the Juiz Ordi- 

 nario or Mayor of Pillar, in the year 1812. He 

 had seen how dreadfully the want of due atten- 

 tion to the duties of this office had been felt on 

 former years, and now he was determined to 

 act in the manner which his situation required. 

 He said, that in building great cities, the first 

 puhlic edifice which was or ought to be raised, 

 was the prison ; and therefore as Pillar was 

 becoming daily of more importance, it was fit 

 that it should have this requisite edifice. He 

 ordered a number of trees to be cut down, and 



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