PROVINCE OF PERNAMBUCO. 



387 



stretched out upon tables, upon mats, or in redes, (nets,) slumbering their time 

 away. If this class of people can obtain sufficient to satisfy the wants of the 

 day, their views extend no further, and industry is no where seen amongst them ; 

 besides, the agricultural arm is paralysed nearly one-third of the year by holi- 

 days and saint days. 



I was very hospitably entertained during a portion of my stay at Pernambuco 

 by John Lempriere, Esq. the British consul, whose sitio is at the Solidado, a 

 small hamlet, in which is situated a palace, formerly belonging to the bishop. 

 It is a fine edifice, and built with uniformity, but is now rapidly sinking into 

 decay, which will not be less accelerated by the use to which it is at present 

 appropriated— that of a barrack. I brought a letter of introduction to Mr. 

 Cockshott, when we immediately recognised each other as old acquaintances, 

 his family and mine having been upon the most intimate terms of friendship for 

 many years. I experienced great kindness from him, as well as many of the 

 English merchants residing here, and spent a portion of my time at his country 

 sitio, pleasantly situated at Ponta de Cho, upon the margin of the Capibaribe, 

 from whence I was accompanied by Mr. Ray, the American consul, who 

 also has a house here, to visit many of the neighbouring places, and cannot 

 upon this occasion refrain from doing justice to my feelings, in acknowledging 

 his frank and spontaneous attention and liberality. 



The rides from Recife to Ponta de Cho, by several roads, are equally de- 

 lightful, being partly bordered with lime hedges, and fences formed of the cocoa 

 branch, interspersed with verdant foliage, and all the variety of fruit trees pecu- 

 liar to the clime; groups of the high towering cocoa-nut tree heighten the 

 beauty of the scenery, every where richly wooded. 



The roads branching from Boavista, and meeting in one, about half-way to 

 Ponta de Cho, are adorned with some elegant white houses, in a very excellent 

 state of exterior repair, the grounds being enclosed by lofty walls, and many 

 of the front entrances, consisting of a handsome portico, excelling any thing 

 in this style near Rio de Janeiro. Every hundred yards, places of this charac- 

 ter are met with to Ponta de Cho, where the river opens out and presents a 

 Very pleasing scene, the road running for a short distance along its margin, 

 fronted by the residence of the governor, not very gracefully ornamented with 

 a chapel in the middle of the entrance court. From hence the main road leaves 

 the river, and for about two miles presents many neat houses to the Poco de 

 Panela, some of them being the residences of English merchants. 



In this interval the village of Casa Forte is passed, celebrated for having been 



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