TO CAPE FRIO. 



71 



others, on the contrary, are made of trunks of such prodigious 

 thickness, that they are tolerably safe even at sea, when it is not 

 very rough. The steersman stands upright, and contrives to balance 

 himself so well that he does not cause the slightest vacillation. The 

 oars have a shovel of an oblong form at the extremity : and in small 

 canoes are managed with one hand. A couple of skilful boatmen 

 can row these light vessels with wonderful rapidity. 



The water of the lake was very shallow, and so transparent, that 

 we could clearly discern the white sand at the bottom, with its coral- 

 line plants ; in some places we were even aground. These lakes abound 

 with gulls, sea-swallows, white herons, and sand-pipers. Two kinds 

 of cormorants are also very common here : one of a greyish brown, 

 and the other very much resembling the European cormorant : both 

 fish in these waters, and approach very near the houses of the town. 



The fazenda of the captain, surrounded by its negro huts, is built 

 upon a hill and finely situated. Around are seen woody mountains, 

 and shrubby rising grounds, which form an agreeable contrast with 

 the light green sugar-plantations. On the left the landscape is diver- 

 sified by several sheets of water and neat dwellings ; and it is bounded 

 by blue mountains in the distance. 



We inspected the sugar-manufactory, which appears to be very 

 judiciously arranged. To condense and purify the juice of the cane, 

 of which it is intended to make brandy, a strong ley is added to it. 

 This is obtained by pouring warm water on the ashes of a kind of 

 poli/g07ium called cataya in the Indian language. This plant has a 

 very bitter, peppery taste, and is used also in many diseases*. Most 

 of the principal fazendas have a church, or large apartment so 



* On the Rio St. Francisco, this plant is said to bp nsed with advantage in the complaint 

 called O Largo. This disease, according to the account of a Hungarian physician who re- 

 sided there, is an enlargement of the colon occasioned by debility. In this case the plant is 

 boiled ; the decoction is left to cool, and then applied as a clyster, and also for bathing. 



