NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



S59 



nean. This is subjected to the press, and the liquid, generally known 

 to be highly poisonous, oozes through it. So very deleterious is this 

 fluid, that I have seen the domestic fowl killed by it almost instantly. 

 But I 'do not remember any instance of its proving injurious to animals 

 or birds in a wild state ; they are probably, aware of their danger, or if 

 they ever take it, retire into the woods and die there. When this 

 poisonous liquid ceases to be discharged from the press, the pulp is gene- 

 rally placed in small quantities over a strong fire in a shallow copper pan, 

 in order to drive off any remaining moisture. In proportion as it is com- 

 pletely dry, the quality of the flour is good, and will remain for a longer 

 time in the state of wholesome food. Unfortunately, Farinha is sold 

 by weight, and the worst is the heaviest, hence there arises a double 

 temptation to leave in it as much of the deleterious liquid as the consti- 

 tution will bear, without immediate symptoms of disease. For particular 

 purposes, a part of the pulp is made into a sort of cake dried very com- 

 pletely, and becomes very white, in this state it is called beiju, and in 

 texture resembles the Yorkshire oat cake. 



We found the apparatus for preparing Farinha defective in many 

 points, and endeavoured to introduce some small improvements, parti- 

 cularly by applying to it a hopper, which it had not before, and substi» 

 luting the stang press instead of the lever one, with the common screw. 

 Yet afterwards I was not a little surprised to learn from the book enti- 

 tled, Moeurs des Sauvages, which contains some excellent descriptions 

 of Indian manners, that it had long been in use among them, and that 

 they employed sippo for ropes, an article by which it was fancied, that 

 we had amended the press. 



The ignorance or negligence of the Brazilians, in several branches of 

 Mechanics, has been noticed before. It seems now, that in Agricultural 

 Machinery, they might with advantage have taken another lesson, as 

 they have done many, from their savage predecessors in the country. 

 But they are slow to learn ; and in points of this sort, the Government 

 is as remiss as the commonalty. Both are alike astonished when they 



