AND AMONG THE BOTOCUDOS. 



289 



and round the buildings have been planted a great number of bananas, 

 and mammao trees, (papaw, carica,^ but the fruit frequently serves 

 only to feed the Botocudos, whom the inhabitants willingly allow to 

 take it, in order not to disturb the peaceable footing on which they 

 live with them. Between the island and the north bank, the river is 

 but narrow, and it was at this time so shallow as to be fordable ; the 

 south arm is broader. Padre Farya, a priest from Minas, has lately 

 made there, opposite to the island, considerable plantations of maize, 

 mandiocca, rice, cotton, &c. : he lives quite sequestered ; the road to 

 Minas passes close by his house. 



The post of Arcos was occupied by an ensign with twenty men ; so 

 many of whom however have deserted, that only about ten remained, 

 chiefly people of colour, Indians, or mulattos. The soldiers fare very 

 badly; their pay is small, and they are obliged to obtain by their 

 own labour all their food, which consists of mandiocca-flour, beans, 

 and salt-meat. The whole stock of powder and ball seldom exceeds 

 a couple of pounds ; and very few of the old muskets are serviceable ; 

 so that in case of an attack, they would be under great embarrass- 

 ment. It is moreover the duty of these soldiers to convey travellers 

 and their goods or baggage up and down the river ; hence they are 

 mostly very expert at this employment, and may be considered as 

 excellent boatmen. Their commandant had gone upon a journey 

 some time before, and had left the command during his absence to a 

 subaltern officer : this latter had punished a Botocudo who had been 

 guilty of some misconduct, which so offended all those of his tribe, 

 who generally reside here in considerable numbers, that they retired 

 together into the woods. When the ensign on his return found the 

 Quartel entirely deserted by the Botocudos, and learned the cause of 

 their w ithdrawing, he sent a young man of their tribe, named Fran- 

 cisco, who was in his company, after them, to persuade them to return. 



The Botocudos generally resident in the neighbourhood of the 



2 p 



