^ Travels in the Bramls, ' lOä 



this station In the month of February, took this head with him, 

 which is now in the possession of the Professor Sparrman. In 

 the woods on the borders of St, MatthcBiis, are a nusnber of 

 uncivihsed Inciians, the Tajyuyas or Gentios who are continu- 

 ally at war with tlie wliites. 



On the north side roam the Patachos, Cumaiiaehos, Macac^ 

 halis called by tlie Portug-iiese, Maehacaris and others onwards 

 to Porto Seguro ; Botocundos also in abundance possess the 

 southern side, they are dreaded by other tribes, whom they 

 treat as enemies, making them pay a small tribute for the 

 support of the common cause. There are many plantations 

 in a fazenda up the river belonging to them, but which are 

 continually plundered. In the river St. Matthew is found a 

 great rarity which is seldom found in rivers on the east coast, 

 viz, the Manati Piexe Boi of the Portuguese. Much obscu- 

 rity hangs over the natural history of this animal, nor has its 

 formation been much inquired into. It is found in abundance 

 here, it sometimes however makes for the sea and enters 

 other rivers, it has been also caught at Alcohaca ; it delights in 

 lakes, or ponds overgrown with reeds and grass, and is 

 taken with difficulty ; The Manati gives abundance of oil, 

 and its flesh is well liked by the natives ; the drum of the ear 

 is used as a wonder-working medicine and fetches a good 

 price. 



The rtver is w^ell stored with fish, one from being found 

 near Piau, is called the Piau de Capim or grass Piau, being 

 found near those parts where grass is in plenty. The Indians 

 kill this fish with their arrows, they go in a small light Canoes 

 provided with a bow about three feet long, and arrows about 

 the same length, made of a reed called Taquara, and barbed 

 with wood or iron. About half a league from St. Matthaeus, 

 appears the small river Guajintiba which runs into the sea. 

 At this place we were obliged to proceed by water about 

 three leagues further to reach the fazenda. As Itaiinas which 

 belong to the Ovidor of the Comarca of Porto Seguro Sen. 

 Mar9alino da Cunha. This small river has its banks decorated 

 profusely with shrubs, its waters are dark brown like most of 

 the small rivers in Brasil, and stored with fish; abundance of 

 wild Ananas the species Bromelia, grows wild hereabouts, 

 they are large, juicy and arorqatic; tiie eatable sort do not 

 grow wild in Brazil, but are abuudant in the plantations, 

 where they thrive. They here make brandy of them, and 

 for the same purpose they use the fruit of the Anacardium 

 and the Cajueiro, which grow in sandy districts all over the 

 Brazils. Tlie juice of the fleshy part of the fruit is a diuretic, 

 and is esteemed in this coimtry a specific for the Syphilis 



Voyages and Travels, No. 3, Vol If I. L 



