364 



PROVINCE OF PERNAMBUCO. 



was entitled Zumbe, and had his palace more distinguished than the houses of 

 his vassals, which were erected according to the African mode. The most 

 valorous and wise were always selected for this important office. Besides the 

 superior, they had subordinate officers for the administration of justice, which 

 was punctually executed against adulterers, homicides, and thieves. 



The slaves who voluntarily came and associated with them had their liberty 

 immediately granted, but those taken by force remained captives. The first in- 

 curred the penalty of death if they fled and were taken, a punishment which 

 deserters from the latter class did not experience. Independently of a slight 

 covering the whole were in a state of nudity, except the superiors, who wore 

 such clothes for dresses as the neighbouring people of Quilombo sold to them, 

 together with arms and ammunition, in exchange for provisions. Those only 

 who had been baptized assumed the name of Christians, 



Within the square was a vast basin or tank of soft water, well stored with 

 fish, and a high rock, which served them for a watch-tower, from whence they 

 could discover the country all round to a great extent, and could observe the 

 approach of the enemy. The suburbs were covered with plantations of neces- 

 sary provisions, to protect which there were various hamlets, called mocambos, 

 governed by veteran soldiers. 



It is extraordinary that this colony gave much anxiety to the crown, existed 

 for the space of sixty years, and cost much labour to an army of eight thousand 

 men for many months to accomplish its extinction in 1697. 



Mineralogy. — Gold, amianthus, stone for water-filters, limestone and grind- 

 stone, terra de cores, a sort of plaster for figures, also two or three species of 

 rude marble, and potters' earth. 



Zoology, — All the domestic animals of Spain are bred here. Goats and 

 sheep are less profitable than in the country in which they are natives. The 

 woods abound with all the species of wild animals described in the preceding 

 provinces, excepting the wild dog, in place of which there is the ferret. The 

 hedge-hog has here the name of quandu. The guariba, a species of monkey 

 generally of a red colour, from the river St. Francisco towards the south, is 

 black in this province, and its skin on this account is more esteemed. The 

 tatubola, or armadillo, and the land-tortoise are numerous, as well as the moco, 

 in rocks and stony grounds. Rabbits are very rare. In the open country are 

 the emu-ostrich and the seriema. In the lakes are the colhereira, jaburu, goose, 

 grey and white heron, wild duck, soco, macarico, water hen. In the woods 

 and plains are the ^acM, mutiin, zabele, enapupe, racuan, arara, parrot, the uru 



