

TOWN OF A9U. 



147 



channels for a short distance ; it is situated upon 

 the northern bank of the smaller branch. There 

 is an island of sand between the two branches, 

 and the distance from whence the river is di- 

 vided to where it is again united, is about two 

 or perhaps three miles. We crossed their dry 

 beds, and entered the square, which is • not, 

 paved, and the sand is deep. Many of the in- 

 habitants were at their doors, for all travellers 

 are objects of curiosity, and our appearance in- 

 creased it. I rode upon an English saddle, and 

 this particularly attracted the notice of an eques- 

 trian people. The houses have only the ground 

 floor ; some of them are plastered, and white- 

 washed, but the mud of which others are com- 

 posed, remains in its natural colour, both within 

 and without, and the floors also are of earth ; so 

 that in spite of the greatest care, when water is 

 scarce, their inhabitants cannot keep themselves 

 clean. Though the lower class of Brazilians, 

 of all casts, have many dirty customs, allied to 

 those of salvage life, still they are remarkably clean 

 in their persons $ one of the greatest inconveni- 

 ences of a situation, when a Brazilian complains 

 of the place he happens to reside in, is the want 

 of a river or pool of water in the neighbourhood, 

 for the purpose of bathing. 



We enquired for the house of a man of colour, 

 a saddler by trade, with whom my guide was 

 acquainted. This person, like many others, had 

 l 2 



