C 191 ) 



was embellished with several gardens^ and presented more frequent 

 appearances of cultivation than we had of late been accustomed to 

 viewi The climate is much hotter than at Villa Rica, on account of 

 the lowness of the situation ; and we were informed that fruits of 

 every kind, particularly the pine, grew in this soil to great perfection 

 in size and fineness of flavour. The truth of these accounts we could 

 not ascertain, as this was not the fruit-season. 



After travelling about four miles we arrived at the village. It 

 being Sunday, numbers of people had come from various parts in 

 the neighbourhood to attend divine service, and, after it was over, 

 flocked in crowds to the place where we alighted. It appeared as if 

 the whole population of the village, men, women, and children, were 

 possessed with the same spirit of curiosity, so great was their 

 eagerness to get a sight of us. We dined in a mixed company of 

 ladies and gentlemen, at the house of the worthy vicar, who kept 

 a very hospitable table, and paid us the most flattering attention* 

 A military officer and a judge, who were of the party, entered into 

 conversation with us; and it was difficult to decide who were the 

 most inquisitive, they, respecting the motives and objects of our 

 journey, or we, respecting the state of the . country, the Anthropo- 

 phagi, &c. ' > 



We learnt that the village was founded about twenty-three years 

 ago by a number of Portugueze, who were tempted to settle, in a 

 spot so exposed to the depredations of the Bootocoodies, by the 

 gold with which it abounded. At the present day, I was informed 

 that it contains about four hundred inhabitants, and that the 

 vicinity is well peopled, so that a sufficient force is always at hand 

 to repel the savages ; who, no longer daring to attack openly, 

 now have often recourse to stratagem. When they have marked 

 out a house, and ascertained its strength, they set fire to it by shoots- 

 ing arrows with fire-brands into the roof, and fall on the unfortunate 

 inhabitants as they are attempting to escape. These savages, accus- 

 tomed to live in the woods, and well practised in all the arts requir 



