'■:".<*'-.'' 



rn g mmS M 



( 152 ) 



CHAP. VII. 



CONTINUATION OF THE JOURNEY. — FROM ACU TO ARA- 

 CATI. — FROM ARACATI TO SEARA. — INDIANS. — THE 

 LATE GOVERNOR. — THE FAMILY OF THE FEITOZAS. 



/"|UR way was through woodlands for about 

 one league, when we came out upon the 

 borders of the lake Piato ; we proceeded along 

 them for another half league, and unloaded 

 near to the caza de palha, or straw cottage, of 

 the commandant of the district. Piato is a lake 

 of three leagues in length, and about one league 

 in breadth. In the summer its sides become 

 sufficiently dry to enable them to be cultivated, 

 but the centre of it is invariably marshy and 

 impassable. The fertility of its sides is very 

 great, affording most plentifully rice, maize, 

 sugar-cane, melons, &c. and I saw some cotton 

 trees planted very near to the edge. The lake 

 is filled from the river in the rainy season, and 

 as the lands around it are much higher than the 

 lake itself, the waters which run down from 

 them wash away all vestiges of cultivation, till 

 these again subside, and the same operations are 

 continued the following season. In such dread- 



