THE BOrLING-HOUSE. 



145 



animals. They pick up as much as they please 

 of the cane-trash which is thrown out of the 

 mill, and the cane-tops are likewise given to 

 them. 



THE BOILING-HOUSE. 



In the boiling-house, the manufactory of 

 sugar in Brazil requires great alteration. The 

 work is done in a slovenly manner, very lit- 

 tle attention being paid to the minutiae of the 

 business. The ovens over which the boilers 

 are placed, are rudely made, and they answer 

 the purpose for which they are intended in an 

 imperfect manner ; enormous quantities of fuel 

 are consumed, and the negroes who attend to 

 the ovens are soon worn out. The juice runs 

 from the cane as it is squeezed between the 

 rollers, into a wooden trough below, and is from 

 thence conveyed into a cistern made of the same 

 material, standing in the boiling-house. It is 

 received from this cistern into the great cal- 

 dron, as it is called, which is a large iron or 

 copper vessel. The caldron has previously been 

 heated, and when nearly full, the temper is 

 thrown into it, and the liquor is suffered to boil. 

 It is now scummed with considerable labour. 

 The work of scumming is usually performed by 

 free persons, which is owing to two causes ; 

 it demands considerable skill, to which slaves 

 seldom attain ; and the exertion which it re- 



VOL. II. L 



