246 JOURNEY FROM CARAVELLAS 



of the Rio do Prado, which our mules however were able to ford 

 loaded, as we arrived just at the time of low water. On the other side 

 there are again mangrove bushes near the river Prado, and the Villa 

 lies on its north bank, on a rather elevated sandy plain. Stretched 

 upon the sand on the bank, we had to wait very long, before some of 

 the inhabitants thought fit to take us over in a boat. A tolerable 

 lodging was assigned to us in the Casa da Camara. 



The Villa do Prado, which was originally formed of Indians, is 

 less considerable than Alcobapa ; for it has only about fifty or sixty 

 houses, and six hundred inhabitants. The houses are built partly in 

 rows, partly scattered on a white sandy flat. The viiica rosea forms 

 a covering to this hot soil, where our beasts found but very bad and 

 scanty food. This little place is still more destitute of many neces- 

 saries than Alcobapa. Some lanchas keep up a little coasting trade 

 with mandiocca-flour, of which about 8000 alquieres are annually 

 exported, together with some sugar, and other productions of the 

 woods and plantations. The river is tolerably large, abounds in fish, 

 and its barra is not unfavourable to navigation, as loaded sumacas 

 can enter. By order of the government, our countryman. Major 

 Feldner of the engineers, penetrated into the woods, from Villa do 

 Prado, in a north-westerly direction, in order to open a road to 

 Minas Geraes. He quarrelled with the ouvidor, Marcelino da 

 Cunha, who did not support the plan, and as he was totally de- 

 pendant on the arrangements of this person, the whole under- 

 taking failed. Major Feldner was obliged to pass some time upon 

 an island : there he fell sick, and together with his attendants 

 suffered such distress, that they were obliged to kill a dog to satisfy 

 their hunger. A reclaimed Botocudo, named Simam, cured the 

 patient of a violent fever, by a cup of honey which he procured for 

 him. After taking it, a strong perspiration ensued, and the disorder 

 was removed. 



