4 ITAMARACA. 



reside upon the lands belonging to them.* Be- 

 sides the lands attached to these works, there 

 are other considerable tracks which are sub- 

 divided among and owned by a great number of 

 persons of small property. The shores of the 

 island are planted with coco-trees, among which 

 are thickly scattered the straw-cottages of fisher- 

 men ; and oftentimes are to be seen respectable 

 white-washed dwellings, which are possessed by 

 persons whose way of life is frugal, and yet easy. 

 The salt-works upon the island are likewise one 

 great source of its wealth ; these are formed upon 

 the sands which are overflowed by the tide at 

 high water. 



The long village of Pillar, situated upon the 

 eastern side of the island, is at the present day 

 the principal settlement, although that which is 

 called the town of Conception, where I now re- 

 sided, standing upon the S. E. side of the island, 

 claims seniority ; but its better times are gone by ; 

 its situation was considered inconvenient, others 

 are at present preferred ; and if the parish-church 

 did not stand here, and render necessary the 

 presence of the vicar, the place would shortly be 

 deserted. It has now a desolate, neglected ap- 

 pearance, an unpleasant stillness, producing 

 sensations of a very different description from 

 those which are excited by the quietude of a 



* In the year 1630, the island contained three and twenty 

 fcugar-works. — History of Brazil, vol. i. p. 4-76. 



