^M 



BHBHBS^HSB 



16 



COMMERCE. 



weight each bag. The latter is chiefly shipped 

 to Lisbon. Hides, cocoa-nuts, ipecacuanha, and 

 a few other drugs, are also occasionally sent 

 from thence, but are exported in trifling quan- 

 tities. These articles are exchanged for manu- 

 factured goods, earthenware, porter, and other 

 articles of necessity among civilised people, and 

 also of luxury to no very great amount. Two 

 or three ships sail annually for Goa in the East 

 Indies ; and the trade to the coast of Africa for 

 slaves is considerable. Several vessels from the 

 United States arrive at Recife annually, bring- 

 ing flour, of which great quantities are now con- 

 sumed ; furniture for dwelling-houses, and other 

 kinds of lumber, and carrying away sugar, me- 

 lasses, and rum. During the late war between 

 the United States and England, which inter- 

 rupted this trade, Recife was at first somewhat 

 distressed for wheat-flour, but a supply arrived 

 from Rio Grande do Sul, the most southern 

 province of the kingdom of Brazil.* The 

 quality is good t, and I rather think that some 

 coasting-vessels will continue to supply the 

 market with this article, notwithstanding the 

 renewed communication with North America. 



* An edict has lately been issued at Rio de Janeiro by the 

 Regent, declaring himself the Prince Regent of the United 

 Kingdoms of Portugal, Brazil, and the Two Algarves. 1816. 



f I saw, in the year 1814, a very fine root of wheat that 

 had been raised in the Campina Grande of the province of 

 Paraiba, about thirty leagues to the northward of Recife. 



