NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



241 



Taiigerinas, and though beyond this point to the South they do not 

 flourish, are well flavoured. The hills are clothed with timber, in the 

 continental part of the province, as well as on the island ; and the people 

 boast of some sorts well adapted for furniture. 



Whatever foundation there may be for this boast, none of the 

 timber is, I believe, exported ; though other produce, and among the 

 rest lime, is carried to Rio de Janeiro. Some of the merchants have 

 displayed great spirit in their speculations, and made considerable profit, 

 more especially in the fisheries. I had myself among them friends and 

 customers, who traded briskly with several parts of the continent, and 

 up the rivers to the Northward ; and proved themselves to be honest as 

 well as enterprising men. Had the report, which once greatly prevailed, 

 been well founded, that the island was to be ceded to the Crown of 

 Great Britain, and made a free port, the most essential advantages might 

 have accrued both to this country and to Brazil. Many of the Brazilians 

 are such warm admirers of our Constitution, particularly of the repre- 

 sentative part, though, at the same time, knowing very little of the 

 object of their praise, that they were prepared, had the cession been 

 made, to abandon their places of abode and become citizens of St, 

 Catherine's, 



The St. Francisco is the only considerable and important river in the 

 province ; the country about it, though rich, is swampy and unhealthy. 

 Numerous small and rapid streams descend from the mountains, all along 

 the coast, bringing with them much of the soil, which, being deposited 

 at the foot of the Serro, forms, together with the sand thrown in from 

 tlie sea, a flat country abounding with lakes and marshes, especially 

 towards the Northern extremity of the province. The principal island 

 has, near its Northern and Southern ends, several smaller ones, covered 

 with wood of little value. 



Nearly opposite to the principal village, on the banks of the 

 Cubatam, some sulphureous springs have been discovered, said to resem- 

 ble the waters of Harrogate, with the addition of considerable warroth, 



H h 



