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146 TOWN OF ACU. 



minute account of it in this place is unnecessary ; 

 it is a very small insect, which lodges itself prin- 

 cipally under the nails of the feet. In the coun- 

 try, bordering upon the sea, it is to be found 

 most abundantly in sandy districts ; and yet, 

 although the plains of the Sertam appear to be 

 formed of the same kind of sand, the insect is 

 not to be met with in the whole track of country 

 between Natal and Aracati. 



We arrived at A9U on the 1st December, 

 having travelled about 840 miles in 19 days. 

 The continual anxiety in which I was kept, pre- 

 vented me from keeping any regular journal of 

 my proceedings. From Acu to Aracati, I have 

 preserved the names of the places through which 

 I passed. The country is more inhabited, and 

 I was nearer to the coast ; I travelled also with 

 more ease ; but, between Natal and A9U, ex- 

 cepting the deserted Pai Paulo, I did not pass 

 any settlement which deserved even the name of 

 village ; single cottages, much separated from 

 each other, and often uninhabited, contained 

 the whole population of this district. It is a 

 miserable, desolate country. 



The town of Acu is built in a square, and 

 consists of about three hundred inhabitants j it 

 has two churches, and a town-hall and prison, 

 at that time building ; the governor was the 

 promoter of the work. The place stands upon 

 the great river of A$u, where it runs in two 



