

TOWN AND FORT OF SEARA. 



179 



exists now only the remains of an old fort. The 

 beach is steep, which renders the surf dan- 

 gerous for a boat to pass through in making for 

 the shore. A vessel unloaded during my stay 

 there, and part of her cargo consisted of the 

 flour of the mandioc in small bags ; the long 

 boat approached as near to the shore as it could 

 without striking, and the bags were landed on 

 men's heads ; the persons employed to bring 

 them ashore passed through the surf with them ; 

 but ii' they were caught by a wave, the flour was 

 wetted and injured, and indeed few reached the 

 shore perfectly dry. The anchorage ground is 

 bad and exposed ; the winds are always from 

 the southward and eastward ; and if they were 

 very variable a vessel could scarcely ride upon 

 the coast. The reef of rocks forms a complete 

 ridge, at a considerable distance from the shore, 

 and is to be seen at low water. Upon this part 

 of the coast the reef runs lower than towards 

 Pernambuco, which has obliged the people of 

 Seara to take advantage of the rocks being 

 rather higher here, and affording some little 

 protection to ships at anchor. The spot seems 

 to have been preferred owing to this advantage, 

 trifling as it is, though the rocks are much in- 

 ferior to those which form the bold reef of 

 Pernambuco. The ridge runs parallel with the 

 shore for about one quarter of a mile, with two 

 openings, one above and the other below the 



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