304 A Voyage to 



ITW//;,&c. Tht Correfpondence with Rio de Janeiro y near which 

 are the Gold Mines of the Pwdiftas, which afford great 

 Plenty, ftill adds to the Wealth of the Bay. The Houfes 

 there are well built, the Inhabitants handfomely lodg'd 

 and furnifh'd; the Men and Women are modeft in their 

 Habit, becaufe they are wifely forbid wearing of Gold 

 or Silver Lace ; but they fhew their Wealth in certain Or* 

 naments of Maffive Gold, even on their black Women 

 Slaves, who are adorn'd with rich Chains feveral times 

 about their Necks, great Rings and Pendants in their Ears- 

 Crolfes, Plates they wear on their Foreheads, and other 

 very weighty Ornaments of Gold. 

 ■Stnmgers not Contrary to the ufual Policy of other Crowns, the King 

 to trade thi-°£ Portugal does not permit Strangers to refort thither, 

 thcr. xo carry away the Product of the Country, tho' they buy 

 with Specie, much lefs to carry Goods to fell or exchange, 

 wherein he is more faithfully ferv'd than the King of Spain 

 ia Peru. This Regulation is grounded on two good Rea- 

 fons ; the firft, to oblige his Subjc&s to take Pains, and by 

 that means procure them ail the Profit of the Commerce* 

 The fecond and thechiefeft, to prevent the Duties he has 

 upon all Commodities being funk by the Viceroys and 

 Governors, for all Ships being obliged to come and unlade 

 in his Sight at Lisbon, nothing can efcape him. 



Tho' this Bay of All Saintr be a very populous Place, 

 where they reckon there are about 2000 Houfes, it is not 

 neverthelefs a good Place for Ships to put in, efpecially in 

 Winter, not only becaufe of the great Rains it is fubjed to at 

 that time, but alfo becaufe Provifions are not good there,* the 

 Meal and Winecarry'd thither from Europe, are always the 

 worfe for that Paffage ; the Beef there is worth nothing ; 

 there is no Mutton, and Fowls are fcarce and dear. The 

 Traits of that Seafon, as the Bananas, and the Oranges, 

 will not keep long at Sea, and Garden Stuff is there almoft 

 unknown, either through the Supinenefs of the Poriugueze, 

 or becaufe 'it is a difficult Matter to cultivate the fame, by 

 reafon of the great Multitude of Pifmires which deftroy the 

 Plants and the Fruit almoft every where, fothat they are 

 -the Bane of Agriculture in BrafiL De- 



