186 



JOURNEY TO THE EIO DOCE. 



river we paid a visit to the Guarda Mor, on the Ilha do Boi, where 

 he has made fine plantations of millet and mandiocca. In his house 

 we soon perceived that he was a Mineiro, for he lived more on millet 

 than on mandiocca flour, which is a characteristic custom of the in- 

 habitants of that province. To reduce millet to flour, they make use 

 of an instrument cedled a preguiza, or sloth, which Mr. Mawe has 

 described in his Travels. Our canoe, which was very safe and com- 

 modious, provided with an awning, and well supplied with provisions, 

 brought us to the barra of the Rio Doce, to Regencia, in four hours, a 

 distance which had taken us a day and a half, when we went up the 

 stream. 



