TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



V23 



by the sea. Insects too, particularly ants, are also 

 found in the pieces of the Jatai gum, as in amber. 

 The Cayapos, and other Indian tribes on the Rio 

 Grande, on the banks of which the hymensea forms 

 extensive woods, form this gum into ornaments, 

 shaped like a club or a spindle, which they wear in 

 holes, bored in the nose and underlip. Of the 

 thick bark of the tree they make small canoes, 

 which, on account of their lightness, are peculiarly 

 adapted for land carriage from one river to ano- 

 ther. Many lofty crotons also grow on the banks 

 of the Sapucahy. A red resinous matter is ob- 

 tained from them, which the inhabitants call 

 dragon's blood, and use for dying. 



In the extensive fazenda of S. Barbara, we found 

 the principles of a prudent and well-calulated sys- 

 tem of agriculture carried into practice, which 

 have been but lately acted upon in this provhice, 

 since the produce of the gold mines has begun to 

 decline. In former times, gold-washing was the 

 only source of the riches of Minas, and the land- 

 owners even neglected to cultivate what was neces- 

 sary for the subsistence of their slaves, who were 

 occupied exclusively in that employment. The 

 gradual diminution of the amount of gold pro- 

 cured, has, at length, induced them to turn their 

 attention to their fi-uitful lands. Our host, it is 

 true, still delivered annually about a thousand 

 crusadoes in gold, as royal tribute, but the chief 

 source of profit was his maize, farinha, beans, and 



