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want of salt is a very general complaint ; the cattle require it, nor 

 will they breed well without it. 



This district is too far distant from a sea-port to enjoy any extent 

 of commerce in the general articles of its produce. Gold and pre- 

 cious stones are easily transported, but lead, and other commodities 

 of greater bulk and inferior value, would scarcely pay the expence 

 of carriage. Hence no cotton, coffee, or sugar is grown for export- 

 ation, and the quantity consumed in the district is very limited, 

 owing to the small number of the inhabitants, and the miserable in- 

 digence in which they generally live, their common diet being Indian 

 corn-flour, boiled beans, and a little pork. The trade to Rio de 

 Janeiro is much similar to that of Minas Novas, and consists 

 chiefly in iron, cotton, arms, hard-ware, and a few trivial luxuries. 

 Persons of all ranks are eager to purchase negroes, also a few 

 woollens. The only articles sent to Villa Rica are gold-dust and 

 hides. 



In this district, and in other parts of these immense territories, 

 particularly to the eastward, are large tracts of land volute^ or not 

 occupied by any person under a grant from government. These 

 lands to a considerable extent may be taken by making proper ap- 

 plication, and afterwards held as freehold. Other excellent situations 

 are in the possession of idle people, who are equally incapable and 

 unwilling to reap advantage from them. These may be bought very 

 cheap, and are certainly preferable to the unoccupied tracts, as they 

 have generally some few conveniences attached to them, and may, 

 therefore, more easily be brought into a proper state of cultivation. 

 Here is every inducement for a spirited and experienced agriculturist 

 to settle : a rich and fertile district, in which there remains much to 

 be discovered in every department, where all the necessaries, and 

 many of the luxuries, of life are produced almost spontaneously ; and 

 where the exertions of industry would be rewarded in a tenfold 

 degree by the bounteous hand of nature, and stimulated by the cer- 



