366 



PROVINCE OF PERNAMBUCO. 



their productions are the most lucrative. The desire every where of the gain 

 which these two articles afford, unwisely prevents the cultivation of provisions of 

 the first necessity in sufficient quantity for the subsistence of the population. The 

 flour of mandioca is generally scarce and dear, arising in part from the lands in 

 the vicinity of the sea (which alone are fertile) having been given in such liberal 

 portions ; so that at the present day they are under the dominion of so few 

 persons that it is calculated that for every two hundred families there are only 

 eight or ten proprietors, or senhores d' engenho, and who generally permit their 

 tenants only to plant the cane. The jangada, a peculiar tree, and one of the 

 most useful in the province, has a trunk commonly straight and scarcely ever 

 attaining a thickness that a man cannot encompass with his arms : it is extremely 

 porous and light. The trunks attached, as already described, constitute the only 

 small craft of the country ; fishermen proceed with them to sea out of sight of 

 land, and travellers transport themselves, with their moveables, from one port 

 to another. It is necessary to drag them on the beach at the end of each 

 voyage to dry, in order that the wood may not decay so quickly. The trees 

 which produce the oil of cupahyba are met with in all the woods ; also those 

 which produce the gum-copal, the drug benzoin, and the sweet gum storax. 

 The latter is here called the balsam tree ; and the honey which the bees make 

 from the sweets of its flower has the smell of cinnamon. Amongst other exotic 

 trees which have been naturalized the precious sandal tree, it is affirmed, would 

 prosper here almost as well as in the island of Timor, and would save to the 

 state many arrobas of gold annually expended in bringing it from India. 



The people of the certam catch large quantities of turtle and ring doves with 

 the manicoba-brava, an infusion of which is put into vessels half buried in the 

 sand, in those places where some little water remains after the streams are 

 dried up, and to which those birds are attracted for the purpose of drinking. 

 On taking the infusion, if they do not immediately vomit, they cannot again 

 take wing, but quickly begin to tremble, and expire in a few moments. 



Rivers. — The most considerable are in the western part of the province; 

 but we shall defer speaking of them till we come to finish the description of 

 the river St. Francisco, into which they discharge themselves. 



The principal ones in the eastern part of the province are the Capibaribe, the 

 Ipojuca, the Una, the Tracunhaen, or Goyanna, and the Serenhen. 



The Capibaribe, or river of the Capibaras,* has its origin in the district of 



* A capibara, the animal from which this river takes its name, is now in Exeter Change. 



