( 288 y 



The town is built on a rising ground, much exposed, and constantly 

 refreshed by the sea-breeze. It has many excellent edifices, and is 

 supposed to contain more opulent merchants, in proportion to the 

 population, than any other place in Brazil. It produces vanilla, 

 cocoa, and a considerable quantity of sugar ; but the chief article of 

 its trade is cotton, which for many years had the reputation of being 

 superior to any other, but of late it has much deteriorated, from neg- 

 lect, either in the growth, or in the gathering the pods and cleaning 

 it from the seeds, or probably from general inattention to the whole 

 management of it. In delicacy of colour and staple, it has been 

 surpassed by the cotton called South Sea Island Georgia, of which 

 great importations have been made to this country, and for which 

 great prices have been given. The cotton, when ready for packing, 

 is pressed into raw hides, so hard as to form very heavy packages. 

 The operation is superintended by an officer authorized by Govern- 

 ment, who puts a stamp upon it describing its quality, which enables 

 the shipper to pass it through the custom-house, where it pays a 

 small duty on exportation. This port has loaded many ships an- 

 nuallyi and continues to export a considerable quantity, though at 

 reduced prices, owing to the present distracted state of European 

 commerce. 



The district of Seara is but little known, and enjoys very trifling 

 trade. Maranham, though a very small district, has of late raised 

 itself considerably into notice by its excellent productions, which 

 are the same as those of Pernambuco. Cotton is the staple article, 

 with some sugar and rice, several cargoes of which are annually ex- 

 ported. 



The dye-wood of these districts is considered excellent, and is 

 sometimes shipped from this coast. The tree which produces the 

 annatto is very common, and the seeds from which it is washed are 

 of the best quality, and might be obtained in great abundance. 

 Cocoa may be grown in any quantity ; capsicum, pimento, ginger, 

 &c. are very plentiful. , 



