The tajaçu is to be met with at Maranham, but is not known at Pernambuco.
[73] Directions were given by the capitam-mor, that a reservoir for rain water should be formed; and these have been carried into effect. 1815.
[74] The Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday are properly the days of the intrudo, but the sport is, as in the case in question, often commenced a week before the appointed time. Water and hair powder are the ingredients which are established to be hurled at each other, but frequently no medium is preserved, and every thing is taken up heedlessly and thrown about by all parties, whether it be clean or dirty, whether it may do mischief or is harmless.
[75] The account which Labat gives of l’arbre à Savonettes does not agree in all points with mine; the difference may arise from various circumstances to which some clew might have been discovered, if attention had been paid to the subject upon the spot. He says that the leaves are three inches in length, and “cet arbre est un de plus gros, des plus grands et des meilleurs qui croissent aux isles.”—Nouveau Voyage, &c. Tom. vii. p. 383. Du Tertre says, that it grows en abondance le long de la mer; dans les lieux les plus secs et les plus arides.—Histoire des Antilles, &c. Tom. ii. p. 165. I have only heard of the Saboeiro at some distance from the coast.
[76] Limoeiro was raised to a township by an Alvará issued from Rio de Janeiro on the 27th July, 1811; but this was not then known. It has now a mayor, municipality, and capitam-mor.
[77] This place was erected a township by the same Alvará, which was issued respecting Limoeiro; and by the same, the villages of Cape St. Augustin and of St. Antam were likewise raised to the rank of towns; a sure sign is this of the increase of population.
[78] This village is as much or more generally known by the name of Lagoa d’Anta, as by that of Nazareth; but the latter is the name which it bears in law. The former name, which means the Lake of the Anta, seems to denote that that animal was known in this part of the country; but in the present day, I could not meet with any of the peasants who knew what the word Anta was intended to signify.
[79] History of Brazil, Vol. i. p. 467 and 468.
[80] History of Brazil, Vol. i. p. 467 and 468.
[81] History of Brazil, Vol. ii. p. 237.