TO CAPE FRIO. 



57 



covered with a thicket of dwarf cocoa-palms about three feet high : 

 this plant, which has no stem, has feathered leaves either rolled up 

 or bent backward, and follicules which, rising like a tjpha from an 

 upright stalk, are covered with small nuts of the size of a hazel-nut : 

 these are ranged like the grains of maize, and have at the root a 

 yellowish red, eatable substance, of a sweetish taste. 



We had resolved to pass the night at the faze nda of Pitanga, which 

 we beheld on an eminence before us, resembling an ancient castle, 

 finely illumined by the bright light of the moon. Riding up to the 

 building, we knocked at the gates, which after some time were opened 

 to receive us. The obliging steward immediately assigned to us the 

 building in which the forhiha is prepared. Here we found convenient 

 roomy quarters for the whole party, and therefore determined to remain 

 there some days, and carefully examine the adjacent country. 



This farinha manufactory is of considerable extent. In order to 

 prepare the flour, the roots of the mandiocca (iatropha manihot^ 

 Linn.) are first scraped clean from the rind ; they are next held 

 to a large wheel, which on being turned round, soon reduces them 

 to a fine pulp. The mass is then put into long wide bags, made of « 

 rush or bass matting, which are hung up and pulled lengthwise ; 

 by this operation the bag contracts in width, and presses out 

 the moisture contained in the pulp. The remaining consistent part 

 is afterwards put into large pans, either of copper or earthenware, 

 in which it is thoroughly dried by heat; but the thick mass must be 

 constantly stirred to keep it from burnmg. The dry meal thus 

 prepared, is CdXleA farinha. When the weather was damp, we often 

 dried our newly prepared animals over the mandiocca pans ; but 

 though M^e always left some person to attend them during the night, 

 we lost some rare specimens M'hicli were destroyed by the fire. 



The weather was now very cold ; a high wind blew on the sea- 

 coast, and the thermometer scarcely rose at noon to 13° of Reaumur. 



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