304 



PROCEED THROUGH OLINDA. 



very little communication with the planters. Orf 

 that occasion, I proceeded too rapidly to obtain 

 as much knowledge of their manners and customs 

 as I wished. 



We proceeded to Olinda, and passed through 

 its wretchedly paved streets with much care ; 

 and when we were descending the hill, upon 

 which it stands on the land side, there was laid 

 open to us a considerable extent of marshy 

 ground, which was partly covered with mandioc, 

 planted upon raised beds or hillocks, which were 

 made of a circular form, that the water might 

 not reach the roots of the plants ; the remainder 

 of the land was still undrained and unproduc- 

 tive. The darkness of the green of the plants 

 which grow upon marshy ground immediately 

 points out the lands that are in this state. The 

 country which was to be seen in the distance 

 was covered with wood. We crossed a rivulet, 

 communicating with the marshy land on each 

 side of the road, and passed on over some rising 

 ground, and by several scattered cottages, until 

 we reached, distant from Olinda one league, the 

 low lands surrounding the hill which forms the 

 site of the sugar-plantation of Fragozo. From 

 hence the lands are low and damp, almost with- 

 out any rising gronnd, to the sugar plantation 

 of Paulistas. The beautiful spots upon this track 

 of country are numerous ; cottages are often- 

 times to be met with, half concealed among the 



