i 



aoo 



DROUGHT. 



larly so in these uncivilised regions. Parties 

 were likewise occasionally given at the palace, 

 and at both these places, after tea and coffee, 

 cards and conversation made the evenings pass 

 very quickly. The palace was the only dwelling 

 in the town which had boarded floors : it ap- 

 peared at first rather strange to be received by 

 one of the principal officers of the province, in 

 a room with a brick floor and plain white- 

 washed walls, as occurred at the house of Senhor 

 Marcos. 



This gentleman had delivered to me a crim- 

 son-coloured satin bag, containing government 

 papers, and directed to the Prince Regent of 

 Portugal and Brazil, and he gave me directions 

 to put it into the bands of the post-master at 

 Pernambuco. I obtained, from being the bearer, 

 the power of requiring horses from the several 

 commandants upon the road. To him it was 

 convenient, as with me its chance of safety was 

 greater than if it had been forwarded by a 

 single man on foot, which is the usual mode of 

 conveyance. The men employed for this pur- 

 pose are trust-worthy, but must of course some- 

 times meet with accidents. 



I had in my journey from Goiana to Seara 

 seen Pernambuco, and the adjoining provinces 

 to the northward, in almost their worst state — 

 that of one whole season without rain ; but ex- 

 treme wretchedness is produced by two sue- 



