JOURNEY TO GOIAXA. 



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overflows its banks to a considerable distance on 

 each side. Beyond this village the road is com- 

 paratively flat, but is still diversified by unequal 

 small elevations ; several sugar-works are seen, 

 and great numbers of small cottages ; the passing 

 of the country-people with loaded horses, carry- 

 ing cotton, hides, and other articles, the produce 

 of the country, and returning with many kinds 

 of wares, salt meat, and fish from Recife, may 

 almost be called continual. 



The town of Iguarac^u, which we now entered, 

 has been already mentioned in a former chapter ; 

 it is one of the oldest settlements upon this part 

 of the coast, and stands at the distance of two 

 leagues from the sea upon the banks of a creek. 

 The woods, that border the paths or roads, are 

 in parts so thick and close as to be impassable 

 even to a man on foot, unless he carries in his 

 hand a bill-hook or hatchet to assist in breaking 

 through the numberless obstacles which oppose 

 his progress. Of these the most formidable is 

 the cipo ; a plant consisting of long and flexible 

 shoots which twist themselves around the trees, 

 and as some of the sprouts, which have not yet 

 fixed upon any branch, are moved to and fro by 

 the wind, they catch upon a neighbouring tree, 

 and as the operation continues for many years 

 undisturbed, a kind of net-work is made of irre- 

 gular form, but difficult to pass through. Of 

 this plant there are several varieties ; that which 



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