350 



NOTES ON BRAZIL^ 



writings being in existence, which went back to the year 1650. Yet the 

 whole was offered to sale for two thousand milreis, and the payment of 

 the royal decima ; at present the whole sum is less than £500 Sterling. 

 Essentially different as the spot appeared at this period, we met with a man 

 ninety years of age, who represented it as a complete forest in his youth. 



This part of the country is stocked with an industrious and well-be- 

 haved race, who cultivate their own small farms, yet wanting capital for the 

 purchase of slaves, find it difficult to procure a maintenance. They add 

 to their slender means of support and enjoyment by cutting timber in 

 the forests, squaring it there, or sawing it into planks. Thence it is 

 conveyed to the water's side on a small triangular truck or sledge, on 

 which one end of the baulk is fastened, while the other drags upon the 

 ground ; at the port or junction of the rivers, a piece from forty to sixty 

 feet long, and from fourteen to eighteen inches square, sells for about 

 five shillings. 



One of the chief blessings bestowed on the people of this district, 

 by the arrival of the Royal Family, and those who followed them, — in 

 whicli, indeed, they participated with the country in general,— was the 

 introduction of the British axe and saw. They had before instruments 

 called by the same names ; but they were small, clumsy, or ill adapted to 

 the laborious work which was to be performed with them. In addition 

 to these, an ignorant North-American mechanic made an attempt to 

 introduce the saw mill ; and his failure, as might be imagined, produced 

 a general prejudice against it. Another project succeeded better ; at this 

 place, an establishment was formed for cutting trunnels for the use of 

 the British Dock- Yards, and thus employed, some of the neighbouring 

 slaves became expert sawyers. When these improvements have 

 answered their purpose, and the woods are cleared away, it is to be 

 hoped that the axe and the saw will be succeeded by the plough, the 

 harrow, and the roller. 



It was matter of regret to me, that I could not enjoy the proffered 

 honour of dining with the Clergy, whom Easter brought together at 

 Pirasenunga. .The approach of evening set me at liberty, and I attended 



