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by rubbing, I crushed it, and finally mashed it. The infusion pro- 

 duced a tolerable wort, which, however, I did not deem sufficiently 

 good, as it wanted saccharine matter: this deficiency I supplied by 

 the admixture of a small quantity of sugar. It was then boiled until 

 it was judged of a proper consistency, and a very pleasant bitter was 

 added instead of hops. The fermentation I endeavoured to promote 

 with leaven, which had been prepared a few days before, and, when 

 that process had terminated, the liquor was put into small casks, 

 which we stopped close. Though it might not prove good, from the 

 hasty manner in which the process was conducted, yet the mode of 

 preparing it was exemphfied, which was the main purpose of the ex- 

 periment. It appeared to me by no means impossible either to 

 make malt or to brew beer, if proper places were made under-ground, 

 so as to ensure a moderate degree of cold for the operation of malt- 

 ing, and for the subsequent processes. Sugar is here so abundant, 

 that any quantity of saccharine matter might be added to improve 

 the poorness of the malt; and it is highly probable that a very plea- 

 sant beverage might be made, which would relieve the inhabitants 

 of this remote district from the necessity of having recourse to the 

 metropolis for bad wines, and from the ill effects which proceed from 

 drinking bad spirits distilled in the vicinity. 



Many parts of this fine country abound in oranges, pines, peaches, 

 guavas, and a great variety of indigenous fruits, both sweet and acid, 

 particularly the Jaboticubi, which is very rich in mucilaginous mat- 

 ter, yet no attempt has hitherto been made to obtain wine from any 

 of them. Ginger and pepper grow here spontaneously, and many 

 spices might probably be cultivated with success. 



Grass for cattle was as dear at Tejuco as at Rio de Janeiro, and 

 the small quantity which cost eight-pence would scarcely suflSce a 

 mule a day. The intendant and the captain of the cavalry had each 

 of them about two acres under cultivation, of a species called Engor- 

 do dos Cavalhos (fattener of horses), which grew from five to seven 

 feet high, with a thick esculent stem, and long lancet-shaped leaves. 



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