( 2r72 ) 



every negra knows the process, and most families make for theirowniise. 

 It is very sharp, and washes white articles uncommonly well*. In 

 this fine country, where almost every gradation of climate may be 

 found, European fruits, such as olives, almonds, chesnuts, mulber- 

 ries, &e. would thrive, if properly attended to. 



The mulberry is cultivated at one place, where I saw a, few silk- 

 worms. The climate is favourable to them, but the population is 

 not sufficient to carry the breeding of them to any extent, as they 

 require great attendance and care. 



Cochineal may be said to be almost unknown in the capitania ; the 

 pdlma Christi grows spontaneously, and from its seeds great quantities 

 of castor oil may be extracted. For bananas and other tropical fruits 

 the climate is not sufficiently hot, and is too changeable. Beans, 

 peas, and pulse in general, are very fine ; pumpkins also, and cab- 

 bages grow to a great size. It is a fine country for flowers ; the ros^ 

 is extremely fragrant, and is in bloom all the year. Varieties of the 

 passion-flower are found in all parts ; pinks and carnations, with 

 numberless other flowers> grow in great profusion. 



This capitania contains four comarcos, or districts, St. Joao del 

 Rey, Sahara, Villa Rica, and Cerro do Frio, all of which produced 

 much more gold a few years after their discovery than at present, 

 though in the year 1809 Villa Rica alone received for gold permuted 

 a hundred and six arrobas of thirty-two pounds each. The mines in 

 the other three comarcos cannot be rated to permute less than from 

 fifteen to twenty arrobas, therefore the capitania may be estimated 

 to 3'ield to Government, as the annual fifth, a quantity not less than 

 one hundred and fifty arrobas. 



St. Joao del Rey, the capital of the district so called, is a con« 

 siderable town, and contains at least five thousand inhabitants. 



* In many parts of the coast, the plant which produces the barilla would probably flourish 

 abundantly, if introduced, and would form an excellent article of commerce, not only for ex- 

 portation, but for home consumption. 



