326 



LIMOEIKO. 



some murders being committed, or at least 

 many wounds and blows being given ; but the 

 markets of Nazareth or Lagoa d'Anta are those 

 which are particularly famed for the disturbances 

 that usually take place there. These became so 

 considerable at one time, that the Governor 

 found it necessary to issue orders for a patrole 

 to keep the peace on market days. 



Limoeiro contains about six hundred inha- 

 bitants, and is increaing daily. It stands upon 

 the banks of the river Capibaribe, which was at 

 this time quite dry. The distance from Recife 

 is fourteen good leagues. We were entertained 

 by the vicar, who has taken very little pains to 

 have a decent residence, and cannot fail to be 

 somewhat indifferent about his own life, for 

 every step to which we advanced as we ascended 

 to the apartments above, promised to be the last 

 that would hold us. The floors of the rooms 

 into which we were ushered, seemed to be laid 

 out as traps to ensnare those who might not 

 tread cautiously; some of the boards were 

 broken, and large holes remained : others were 

 loose, and it was dangerous to pass over them ; 

 and besides the several perils of this mansion, 

 substances which are not pleasant to the nose 

 might unwarily be trampled upon. Never did I 

 see so miserable a dwelling, whose inhabitant 

 might with so much ease have bettered the state 

 in which we found it. However, I ought not 



