Travels in the Brazils. 53 



Paraihay and affords an agreeable prospect, especially when 

 viewed from the road leading to the river. The bank is every 

 where alive, and an active concourse of men, generally of 

 colour, employed in commercial and other occupations, are 

 here in constant motion. 



A considerable trade is carried on at Campos with produce 

 of various kinds; but on the lands up the Paraiba, the sugar- 

 cane is principally cultivated ; and also on the small river 

 Muriach^, which falls, on the north side, opposite S. Salvador 

 into the Paraiba, considerable sugar-works are found. Coffee, 

 cotton, and every other species of produce, thrive admirably ; 

 and even the growth of Europe is seen in their markets. The 

 chief object of attention is, however, sugar, and the spirit 

 obtained from it. Among the inhabitants there are persons of 

 property, who conduct their sugar establishments close to the 

 river with sometimes more than 150 slaves; and from such 

 works, besides the rum, from 4 to 5000 arrobes of sugar arc 

 made in one year. The improvement of the works is already 

 in agitation, and the use of the steam-engine is proposed. In 

 the year 1801, there were calculated to be then on the Paraiba 

 and Muriache in this district, 180 sugar works, among which 

 89 of the larger were found to be very profitable. 



There appears even now in this town a considerable degree 

 of luxury, especially in apparel, in which the Portuguese are 

 very expensive. Cleanliness and neatness are to this people, 

 in Brazils at least, universally common. But, if the interior 

 parts of the country, or the less important villas are visited, it 

 will be generally observed, that the planters remain fixed to 

 their ancient habits, without ever thinking of the slightest 

 improvement of their condition. Rich people are there to be 

 found, who, though they send in the course of the year several 

 Tropas laden with goods to the capital, and sell perhaps 1000 

 or 1500 oxen, occupying miserable hovels, one story high, 

 composed of mud, and not even white- washed ; with which all 

 the rest of their domestic arrangements completely accord, 

 except cleanliness of dress, which is seldom wanting. The 

 country of the Paraiba does not seem to possess a sufficient 

 stock of cattle, though these plains are so well adapted for 

 breeding them : a few mules are indeed reared but they are 

 not so strong and handsome as those of Minas, Geraes, and Rio 

 Grande, The sheep and goats are small, and hogs do not 

 succeed here so well as in other countries. I had not come 

 to Campos dos Goaytacases to collect statistical information, 

 (for which I must consequently refer the reader to other works) 

 but in order to learn the natural and national characteristics of 

 the country; which object being here speedily accomplished, my 



