198 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
the Barra do Rio Negro, where he at last succeeded 
in erecting his mill on a suitable site. He even 
found a wealthy Brazilian to join him in the enter- 
prise, and the two together carried on a tolerable 
business for two or three years. Early in 1849 his 
partner died, and so little protection did the laws 
of Brazil at that period afford to the property of 
foreigners, that after some litigation with the widow 
he was obliged to abandon everything except the 
machinery of the mill. Thus forced as it were to 
begin the world anew, he entered into partnership 
with an Italian merchant at the Barra, Senhor 
Henrique Antonij ; but when they had worked the 
sawmill about a year it was burnt down, whether 
by accident or design, was never made out. I saw 
afterwards some of the ironwork lying at the bottom 
of the water at the foot of a pretty cascade, called 
the Cachoeira, which had been the moving power 
of the mill. 
It was in conjunction with Senhor Henrique 
that M'Culloch had begun the engenho at Tama- 
tari. He had already been nearly a year employed 
in clearing away forest, planting cane, arranging his 
water-power, etc. ; and he had still much to do ere 
he could begin to grind cane and make spirit and 
sugar. The cane was magnificent — 15 feet long, 
at the least, and as thick as the wrist — but it was 
so nearly ripe that he feared he should lose the 
first crop, from not having the machinery ready 
to grind it. He employed several native handi- 
craftsmen, who worked pretty much when they 
listed ; but the only workmen on whom he could 
rely were four slaves of Henrique's. He himself 
had to set the example in every kind of work : one 
