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CHAP. XII. 



JOURNEY TO UNINHA. CONTINUATION OF MY RESI- 

 DENCE AT JAGUARIBE. NEGRO BROTHERHOOD OF 



OLINDA. — BLESSING THE SUGAR AVORKS. — MAN- 

 DINGUEIROS AND VALENTOENS. 



A BOUT the middle of January, 1813, I went 

 to stay for some days at the cottage of an 

 acquaintance, who resided upon the plain of 

 Barbalho, for the purpose of purchasing a few 

 horses. This place is near to the village of 

 Monteiro ; but it is on the opposite side of the 

 river. Barbalho is a plain of some extent, upon 

 which cattle are turned out to feed ; the soil of 

 it is a stiff dark-coloured clay, and the grass 

 which grows upon it is of a coarse species ; this 

 becomes quite dry during the summer-months, 

 and when in this state it is set on fire, that the 

 tender shoots which again spring up may serve 

 as food for the animals that are to graze upon it. 

 The fire will run along the ground, urged by a 

 fresh breeze ; it will sometimes contract, and at 

 others spread each way, presenting to the be- 

 holders a fiery wall. The sight is grand ; it is 

 upon a large scale, which gives to it a terrific 

 appearance. The inhabitants of the skirts of this 

 plain carefully preserve a circle around their 

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