344 



PROVINCE OF BAHIA. 



hundred reas per arroba higher than the dentros. Exclusive of these two 

 quahties some Minas Novas find their way to Bahia, and if of good quaUty sell 

 on a par with them. The increase of the cotton crops has been retarded in 

 consequence of some of the planters, a few years ago, turning their attention 

 more to the produce of sugar, from the high prices then obtained for it. 



A very great portion of the cotton denominated dentros comes from Villa 

 Nova do Principe, in the comarca of Jacobina, a town possessing very consi- 

 derable plantations of cotton in its surrounding territory ; from whence it is 

 conveyed to Cachoeira, upon the backs of horses and mules, in square packages, 

 formed of raw hides, called malas, each containing three arrobas, (96 lb.) two 

 of which constitute a horse-load, and are denominated by the Portuguese a 

 carga. 



At Villa Nova do Principe the cotton is sold at so much the carga of six 

 arrobas, and varies in price according to the changes of the Bahia market, say 

 from eight milreas upwards the carga, to this must be added the carriage to 

 Cachoeira, which fluctuates according as horses and mules are plentiful, or 

 otherwise, from eight milreas to fifteen the carga. From Cachoeira, as has 

 been already remarked, it is conveyed in large boats to Bahia, at a freight of 

 one hundred reas the carga ; here it is put into bags, the expense of which is 

 trifling, for the hide will sell for almost as much as buys the material for the 

 bag, and the labour amounts only to one hundred and sixty reas* per bag, (not 

 quite tenpence.) 



Cotton is planted in the month of January or February, and gathered, say 

 the first pluckings, about September. The same plants last three years, the 

 second year being frequently more productive than the first ; but in the third 

 year the crop falls off, both in quantity and quality. After this the plants are 

 destroyed, and the grounds lies fallow. 



Some hides and rum are exported ; and the following statement will show the 

 number of ships, and the amount of produce they conveyed from hence, in the 

 year ending on the 1st of October, 1818. 



* One thousand reas, or a milrea, is now worth about five shillings, and varies according to the 

 exchange. 



