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88 



ESPIRITO SANTO. 



of land, with cottages upon the skirts, and at- 

 tached to each is a pen for cattle. The great 

 weekly fair for cattle from the Sertam, for the 

 Pernambuco market, is held here. 



From Dous Rios, we advanced the following 

 day to the sugar-plantation of Espirito Santo, si- 

 tuated upon the banks of the river Paraiba, which 

 becomes dry in the summer, at a short distance 

 above this estate. I had letters to the owner of 

 it, who is a member of the Cavalcante family, and 

 the Capitam-mor of the captaincy of Paraiba. I 

 was received by him in a very friendly manner. 

 The house is in the usual style of the country, 

 having only the ground-floor, and no ceiling, the 

 tiles and rafters being in full view. Supper of 

 dried meat, and the flour of the mandioc made 

 into paste, and called piram, was placed before 

 me; also, some hard biscuits, and red wine. I was 

 not then sufficiently a Brazilian to eat piram, 

 and took the biscuits with the meat in preference, 

 which much astonished my host. Sweetmeats 

 were afterwards brought in, which are always 

 good in the houses of persons of his rank in life \ 

 the opulent people in Brazil taking as much pride 

 in their doces, as an English citizen in his table 

 or his wines. The cloth was laid at one end 

 of a long table, and I sat down by myself, whilst 

 the Capitam-mor placed himself upon the table, 

 near to the other end, and talked to me ; and 

 some of the chief persons of his establishment 



