Travels in the Brazils* 



69 



CHAP. VI. 



JOURNEY FROM THE VILLA DE S. SALVADOR TO THE 

 RIVER ESPIRITO SANTO. 



Muribecca — The hostilities of the Puris — Quartel of the Barreiras 

 Ita pemirim — Villa Nova de Benevente, on the Iritiba — Gora- 

 raparim, ^ 



On our arrival at the Villa we made the necessary pre- 

 parations for our farther journey northward along the coast; 

 engaged two new hunters^ and a soldier to act as a guide ; and, 

 having taken leave of the commandant, and other inhabitants 

 from whom we had experienced civilities, we left the Villa on 

 the 20th of November, and followed the bank of the Paraiba 

 to its conflux with the sea. The town extends to some distance 

 on the bank of the river, and aifords a beautiful prospect. The 

 thick mass of roofs, partially overtopped with lofty palms, rises 

 above the stream, here tolerably broad, and constantly crossed 

 by canoes managed by negroes; while the back-ground 

 presents a view of the distant blue mountains. 



Our journey was this day very toilsome, partly because our 

 cattle had become wild through too long rest, and partly from 

 the necessity of making openings in the herd enclosures, which 

 both detained us and threw our sumpter-beasts out of their 

 proper order. We saw in this neighbourhood very fine steers; 

 and, indeed, in the Brazils generally, this useful domestic animal 

 is full of flesh and well made. The ox-hides of Buenos Ayres, 

 Monte Video, Rio Grande, and other parts of Portuguese and 

 Spanish America, are famed for their size; and the horns of the 

 cattle are also much larger than they usually are in Europe. 

 Horses are here likewise bred in abundance. The country was 

 variegated and agreeable; and several national curiosities pre- 

 sented themselves; among the rest the bluish Halcyon, (Jl- 

 cedo Halcyon, Linn.) of which we obtained some specimens. 

 About noon we arrived at the house of a tenente, who being 

 from home his wife afforded us accommodation; he returned, 



