scriptive of what were then considered as the eight most important
productions of the Brazils. They consist°of
1st. A view o f the diamond and gold mines, which were first
discovered about the beginning of the eighteenth century, and
the most productive of which are at Villa Rica, about 200
nules behind Rio de Janeiro.
2d. View o f a sugar plantation and mill fo r bruizing the
canes; an article which is not much cultivated in the neighbourhood
of Rio, being considered as more suitable for those
districts lying nearer to the equator. The few mills which we
saw were of a rude construction, turned generally by a pair
of small horses, and the canes passed between three wooden
rollers; and such they appeared in the painting.
3d. The culture and preparation o f indigo. Although this
plant grows well and thrives without much attention the
preparation of the dye simple, and requiring no great expence
of labour, yet the small quantity that is produced will
scarcely entitle it to be considered as an important article of
commerce. -
4th. A plantation o f the Cactus Opuntia, with the mode o f
preparing cochinille from the insect. There can be no question
that this article, so valuable in the arts and manufac
tures, might be cultivated in the Brazils to as great an extent
as m Mexico, whereas the quantity raised at present is exceedingly
trifling.
5th. The different preparations o f manhiot. This plant is
cultivated chiefly for the subsistence of the slaves.-. The cassava
bread so common in the West India islands, and the
substance which is sold in the shops of London under the
name of tapioca, are the produce of its long tuberous roots ;
and they make from it a hair-powder as white as snow. It is
propagated from cuttings, and the root is rasped into a
powder by wheels that are covered' with dentated metallic
plates. . B ill ,1*
6th. View of a coffee plantation. The cultivation of this
article seemed to be on the increase; and there can be no -
doubt that the loss of St. Domingo to France will contribute
greatly to the encouragement of its propagation in
the Brazils.
7th. View of' a rice plantation; which, as the most productive
of all grain, is abundantly cultivated in all the northern
provinces.
8tih. View of a plantation o f hemp, and its manufacture into
cordage. This article is chiefly cultivated in the southern
districts near the island of St. Catharine, but hitherto has met
with little encouragement.
Of other productions equally or more important I shall
p-ive a brief account O in the next chapter.
There is another garden belonging to the Crown, which is
chiefly intended for the cultivation of that species of cactus
M 2