4-S* 



*A M E %l C A. 



Chap. VII. 



Gold and Silver, fo likcwife they occafion Earthquakes : yet in that part of Srrftle 

 call'd Ceara, there are fome Mines of Silver, out of which the Hollanders would have 

 got greater Riches, had not they been employed in the Wars againft the Portuguefe. 

 Far up into the Countrey amongft the Mountains,inhabit Canibal$,ot Man-eaters.' 

 The Europeans that firft traveled that way, found the Countrey very fertile and full 

 of People, especially in the Valleys, butfomewhat incommoded by the want of 

 Water, and the exceffivenefs of the Heat in the Day, and of the Cold in the Night. 

 In fome places the Countrey is fo over-grown with Brambles, that they arc forc'd 

 to cut their way through the fame. But there are a fort of Thirties, which having 

 concave Leaves, receive the Dew and Rain for the accommodation of the Natives. 



Befides Serpents and Dragons, the Tygers are moft of all to be fear'd when 

 hungry, but once fatisfi'd are eafily taken. 



Dogs, Oxen, Sheep, and Horfes thrive alfo exceedingly in moft parts ofBrafrfe. 

 of h th e ^! The ®>'*fi l <™ s live to be very old without being Bald or Grey : There are fcl- 

 *"'• dom or never to be feen fquint-ey'd, lame, decrepid, or any deformed People, not- 



withstanding the Children are never Swath'd but thrown into cold Water as foort 

 as born. The Men generally have a very near refcmblance one with another, as 

 alio the Women, fo that there is not fuch a difference betwixt Man and Man there, 

 as amongft other People. There is fcarce any Sicknefs heard of in thefe Parts ; for 

 befides a long Life, they enjoy the benefit of Health fo long as they live. They 

 trouble not themfelves with much Bufinefs ; and in one Hut, whofe Covering con* 

 lifts of Palm-Leaves, dwell feveral Families together. 

 Ji~ r The general Bread of the (Brafilians is the ftamp'd Root Uanilhoka ; befides which 

 they alfo eat all manner of Fruit and Plants, and many times Flefli, which they 

 either eat boyl'd, broyl'd, or ftew'd . their Boyling is after this manner : Firft 

 they kindle their Fire with two Sticks, the one of hard,and the other of foft Wood j 

 the hard they make fliarp at the end, and fix the fame into the foft, which fetting 

 on fire they immediately lay Cotton thereupon, or elfe dry Leaves, and fo boyl 

 the Flefli in round Earthen Pots call'd Camu : but they account that better which is 



ftew'd 



