PROVINCE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL. 



129 



ronnd stones secured at the extremity of a cord, formed also of leather, and 

 being thrown at the legs of the animal, unexpectedly entangles them so effectu- 

 ally, that it cannot move another step. These species of weapons are used by 

 them against each other. This custom was borrowed from the Maraocoto and 

 other Indian tribes, who used the la90 and balls with great effect against Men- 

 don^a when he landed and founded the city of Buenos Ayres. The Peons, who 

 act as guides, as well as others of mixed origin, are expert with these weapons. 



The Spaniards denominate the progeny of the Indian and Negro, Sombo- 

 loros ; and of these latter and the Mulatto, Saccalaguas ; the son of a Mestico 

 (offspring of a white and an Indian) and an Indian, Cholo. The Portuguese 

 call the first Curibocas. 



The principal towns in this province are St. Pedro, Portalegre, and Monte 

 Video, 



St. Pedro is a commercial town, and advantageously situated upon the ex- 

 tremity of a tongue of land, between the gulf of Manguein to the south and a 

 bay to the north-east. It has a church dedicated to the apostle from whom the 

 town derives its name. It has two orders of devout women ; the one called 

 St. Francisco and the other Carmo. The houses are generally very wretched, 

 and the streets of a fine sand, the same as that of the neighbourhood. It 

 enters so profusely into the houses, at the season of the high winds, that it is 

 impossible to eat any thing without a portion of sand being intermixed with it. 

 This town, begun a league to the south-west, in the situation called Estreito, 

 was removed by Gomes Freyre d'Andrade, between the years 1747 and 1750, 

 and was the capital till the year 1763. The heat is intense. Cats fly from the 

 rats, which are large and exceedingly numerous ; but they have a formidable 

 enemy in the dog. Here are some English establishments in connexion with 

 houses at Rio de Janeiro. 



Upon the eastern bank of the river, in front of St. Pedro, is the considerable 

 and flourishing arraial of St. Joze, with a hermitage of the same name. It is 

 the town's port; and, in 1814, there sailed from it three hundred and thirty-three 

 vessels of various kinds, laden with wheat, hides, carne-secco, or dried beef, 

 tallow, cheese, and other articles. Six leagues to the south of St. Pedro is the 

 arraial of Povo Novo, ornamented with a hermitage of Nosso Senhora das 

 Necessidades. Its inhabitants, originally from the Azore islands, are hus- 

 bandmen. 



Portalegre (delightful port) is a large, populous, and commercial town, has 



s 



