( 52 ). 



exorbitant^ for he charges the articles 100 per cent, higher than thej 

 can be procured at from any other dealer in the place/' 



While at the town of St. Catherine's, we visited some of the gar- 

 dens with which its vicinity is embellished. They are laid out with 

 great taste, particularly one belonging to the vicar, another in the 

 estate of the late excellent and able General Soares de Coimbra, 

 and a third the property of Colonel Gama. At Barragros, near the 

 village of St. Jose, we visited a gentleman of the name of Cald win, 

 who collects and preserves insects. He showed us his grounds, 

 which occupy a space of "eighty-five fathoms along the beach, and 

 extend a mile inland, containing orangeries, coffee, rice, and man- 

 dioca, in a fine state of culture. These well-watered plantations, 

 together with a neat house and garden, he offered to sell for a thou- 

 sand crusados (about 1251. sterling). 



This was not the only instance we remarked of the low value of 

 landed property here. About two miles from the town of St. Ca- 

 therine's, a neat house, a small orangery and ground clear of brush 

 wood, capable of forming a pretty plantation, was offered at J 00 

 dollars. An excellent house, in one of the best situations in the envi- 

 rons of the town, with a garden of about two acres well and tastefully 

 planted, was offered to be sold for 4001. sterling. The building of 

 the house must alone have cost 5001. and it was in perfect condition. 

 In short, money appeared so valuable, that a large landed estate 

 might be purchased for a mere trifle. 



Our excursions to the main land were not confined to the districts 

 immediately within the jurisdiction of St. Catherine's. Proceeding 

 northward from St. Jose we entered some fine bays, the shores of 

 which were studded with houses pleasantly situated amid bananerias, 

 orangeries, and plantations of rice, coffee, and mandioca. After 

 having passed several well-peopled parishes, we arrived at Armasao, 

 a village at the extremity of a bay about nine leagues distant from 

 St. Jose, and four leagues north of Santa Cruz. This village is a 



