NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



369 



wide a space, and compelling the attendance of every white man, would 

 be deemed an intolerable grievance ; and Brazil itself will most undoubt- 

 edly find an amendment of it, in these points, necessary. The evening 

 was spent with officers in the exercise of such great good humour and 

 gaiety, as in some sedater parts of the world would be thought extravagant. 



At the venda where we lodged, are several large sheds, under which 

 the goods in transit are deposited, and where the persons who have the 

 charge of them sleep. Those intended for the interior are made up, 

 before they leave the city, into packages about four feet long, three broad, 

 and two deep, and inclosed in a covering of waxed cloth, to preserve 

 them against injuries from the weather. The whole are so adjusted, by 

 the due admixture of bulky and of heavy articles, as to weigh about 

 seventy pounds each. Hats and other goods which do not admit of close 

 package, as well as those which are liable to be broken or spoiled 

 by pressure, are put into cases and covered by a similar kind of 

 oil case. 



These loads, or as they are generally denominated cargoes, are to 

 be conveyed through the country on the backs of mules ; and on this 

 account, as well as its singularity, the pannel or saddle to which they 

 are adapted, will require a short description. It is composed of two 

 pieces of wood, formed almost like the letter Y inverted ; these are 

 placed parallel to each other, and the two forks are joined together by 

 laths in such a manner that the angular or curved part will stretch across 

 the back of the mule. It is rendered easy to the animal by a stuffing of 

 dried Sape, a species of coarse grass or rushes, which is laid longitudinally 

 within side the wood, and fastened to it either by withs, or cords nicely 

 platted from vegetable fibres. When the pannel is laid on the back of 

 the mule, the two knobs are in an upright position, about two feet 

 asunder, one above the withers the other over the loins of the beast. 

 A broad belt of dry untanned hide passes from it round the buttocks, 

 to prevent the load from slipping forward, and another round the shoul- 

 ders, and under the neck, to keep it from sliding backward. The mule 



has also about its head a long halter made from the same material. 



3 A 



