52 



Prince Maximilian*« 



CHAPTER V. 



Residence at Villa de S, Salvador, and Visit to the 

 Puris at S. Fidelis. 



The plains, which extend northward from the river 

 Pamiba, were formerly inhabited by the savage and warlike 

 race of the Uetacas (*) or Goyatacases, ranked by Vasconcelhs 

 among the Tapuyas, from the difference between their lan- 

 guage and that of the people of the Lingoa Geral. They 

 separated into three tribes, the Goaytaca-assu, Goaytaca 

 Jacorits, and Goaytaca Mopi. Contrary to the custom of the 

 other Indian tribes^, they wore their hair long and hanging 

 down, and were distinguished from ali their lineage by a 

 clearer colour, a firmer structure of body, and a greater de- 

 gree of savageness; and they likewise fought more boldly in 

 the open field. 



The whole country is covered with detached Fazendas and 

 plantations ; and, on the south bank of the Paraiba, which 

 flows through these fruitful plains, at the distance of about 

 eight leagues from the sea, an important Villa, deserving 

 the appellation of a city, ( Cidade) presents itself. Villa de 

 S, Salvador dos Campos dos Goaytacases, contains from five 

 to six thousand inhabitants; the population of the whole 

 district being about twenty-four thousand souls. This 

 place, in general called simply Campos, is tolerably built, with 

 regular streets, for the most part paved, and neat agreeable 

 houses, many of which have several stories. Close balconies 

 with wooden lattice-work, according to the ancient Portuguese 

 fashion, are still common here. Near the river there is a 

 square, on which stands the public edifice, in which the 

 courts of justice are held, and where also are the jails. In 

 this town there are seven churches, five dispensaries, and one 

 hospital, in which there are about twenty j)atients. A surgeon 

 has charge of the hospital; and this country has besides better 

 practitioners than are to be found in the other districts of the 

 coast, where medical aid worthy of confidence is often unfor- 

 tunately sought for in vain. The town is very pleasantly 

 situated, stretches for a considerable space along the beautiftil 



* Jeajj de Levy voyage, &c. p, 45, 



