430 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



As the day advanced, it became so exceedingly hot, that our 

 conductor determined to halt, under a Cart-shed by the road side, in 

 order to cool and refresh his beasts. Being thirsty, I took a small 

 quantity of Rum, and gave some to one of my companions. Shortly 

 afterwards our Guide returned from a neighbouring farm-house, followed 

 by two slaves, one of whom carried a large pewter dish filled with fruit, 

 the other bearing a pot of milk ; both the vessels were neatly covered 

 with clean well-made cotton napkins. Glad at the sight of such luxuries, 

 under a noon-tide sun only a few days from our zenith, I filled a horn 

 with milk and was about to drink it off, when the good-natured stranger 

 stepped forward ,seized my arm, and begged me to desist, saying, " if you 

 drink you will die on the spot, for I just now saw you take spirits." 

 Supposing that he was playing upon my credulity, 1 treated his admo- 

 nition lightly, observing, " you forget that I am an Englishman, and can 

 drink what I please without danger." Nevertheless, he appeared so 

 thoroughly in earnest, and was so warmly seconded by his companions, 

 that I took the " poisonous milk," as they called it, with caution, and found 

 no inconvenience from it. The person -who had taken the rum with me, 

 greatly regretted that he had done so, and positively refused the milk 

 imtil he had seen me survive what was deemed my appointed time, 

 full half an hour; he then also drank, and lived. This little incident 

 served to confirm my good opinion of the strangers, rendered their society 

 more interesting, gave rise to numberless civilities towards me, and 

 led to a conversation upon the deleterious effects of milk, when taken 

 into the stomach upon spirits. On the whole it appeared, that this 

 beverage is really hurtful when mingled with bile, and will then produce 

 the effects they ascribed to it ; but the people had failed to distinguish 

 between that substance and pure Jamaica rum. 



After this refreshment, we proceeded along good roads, where Ave 

 noticed, notwithstanding the unevenness of the country, recent marks 

 of wheels. The Garros which make them are strong and clumsy 

 machines, generally drawn by eight or ten oxen up the hills, all of which 

 except two, are placed behind, when they reach the summit, and 



