■ 



150 



the guidi;, 



else was to be seen ; he called to the dog, took 

 up his fowling-piece, and fired, whilst the dog 

 started up, and darted towards the spot. A 

 jaguar rushed out, and made off; it had been 

 partly concealed under the rock, which, with 

 the - dazzle of the fire, had prevented its body 

 from being seen ; it had crouched, and was 

 ready for a spring, when every thing was quiet, 

 and unprepared. 



I learnt, that there are some extensive salt- 

 works at the mouth of the A9U, and that small 

 craft come from different parts of the coast 

 occasionally, to carry away the overplus. 



I took an additional guide here, as the man I had 

 brought with me from Goiana was not acquaint- 

 ed with the remainder of the road ; but I kept 

 him with me, for although he was not a person 

 I liked, still he was master of his employment ; 

 he managed the horses well, for they had, 

 through his attention and knowledge of this 

 business, all arrived here without sore backs, 

 which I found, from the surprise expressed by 

 all those who saw them, was not a usual piece 

 of good fortune, or good management. He was, 

 however, a great bully, when we quartered our- 

 selves in the houses of poor people, with whom 

 he found he could so act with impunity: he 

 was also continually reporting, that I was a 

 great personage, that he might increase his own 

 importance. Of this I said nothing ; but on 



