TO CARAVELLAS, &C. 



197 



on the east coast of Brazil. In appearance it resembles our apple- 

 tree : it has strong branches, and leaves which stand singly, and 

 therefore affords but little shade ; the flower is small, and of a bright 

 reddish colour ; the blackish kidney-shaped fruit grows attached to a 

 fleshy tubercle, of the figure and size of a pear. This part of the 

 fruit is eaten, but it has a rather rough acid taste. The black kernel 

 is roasted, and is then very good, but it must first be peeled. The 

 juice of the fleshy part of the fruit, being diuretic, is very efficacious 

 in venereal complaints and dropsy. 



Towards evening the journey was the more agreeable, as we were 

 not tormented by the moskitoes, which often spoiled our finest even- 

 ings. Lofty gloomy woods formed romantic groupes on the banks, 

 and the full moon shining in all her splendour, completed the charm- 

 ing picture. As we approached the fazenda, we heard at a distance 

 the drums of the negroes. The negro slaves are fond of retaining the 

 customs of their country as far as lies in their power ; thus, for instance, 

 you see among them all the musical instruments mentioned by tra- 

 vellers in Africa, and among these the drum holds a distinguished 

 rank. Whenever many negroes live together on a faze?ida, they 

 celebrate their festivals, paint and dress as in their native country, 

 and perform their national dances. This may be seen, for instance, 

 iti Rio de Janeiro, at a place near the city, which is especially appro- 

 priated to the purpose. 



At the fazenda of As Itaiinas, we met with a young Puri, who was 

 brought up by the bailiff ; he already spoke Portuguese, and is said 

 to be of a very gentle disposition. The few words which we under- 

 stood of his native language, soon gained us his confidence. We re- 

 gretted that we had not our young Puri from St. Fidehs with us, he 

 having been left behind on the Jucu. Itaiinas is a grazing farm, with 

 a cora/, or inclosure for the cattle, and a miserable hut for some In- 

 dians and negroes, who tend the animals. The owner has collected 



