Hunting a home in Brazil

by James McFadden Gaston

We saw a portion of the land that would be well adapted to the cultivation of any of the staples, but this was not of large extent; and a great portion of it is low and marshy, so as not to suit any thing but rice. The entire territory is represented as containing sixteen square miles, and I should not think that more than two square miles is sufficiently fertile to repay for cultivation, a part being unfitted for use by reason of the serras and a part by the marsh.

This place and its present proprietor have been rendered somewhat famous by a hostile collision on his part with the English marines under Captain Croft, in 1850; who landed here under orders to suppress the slave-trade conducted through this port of entry.

Senor Valencia collected thirty-seven negroes and thirteen whites, with guns, and after being fired upon, they poured a volley into the ranks of the marines, which caused them to return to their vessel. He states that this body of troops had previously gone to another improved place on this land and burned several houses; and that he supposed it to be their purpose to burn these large buildings on the beach. He determined to resist their further destruction of his property, and secreting this force on the route by which he supposed the marines would approach the house, an elevated position was taken by him where he could watch their movements.

It was understood by his men that, upon a signal from him with a cow-horn, they were to use their weapons against the invaders. As the marines approached their position, one of the negroes becoming curious to see what was going on, rose up to look and was immediately shot in the head by the marines; whereupon, a blast from the horn induced them to return the fire promptly and with effect. One man was known to have been killed, and the signs of blood upon the spot and along the line of retreat gave evidence of the fire of his domestic guard.

Senor Valencia was subsequently demanded by the English government, and had to leave the country to avoid capture. He has spent most of the time since in Montevideo, until his interests there being ruined by the operations of the war with Paraguay, induced him to apply to the Emperor of Brazil for permission to return. He came back in June of this year, finding every thing about this place in disorder, and has endeavored to bring it again in workings condition with a view to dispose of it. It affords fine facilities for fishing, and might be made profitable in supplying the Santos market.

Monday, December 11, 1865.

We visited the factory of brick and tile on the main land beyond the bay, two miles distant from the city. It is the most complete, in all appliances, which I have seen anywhere, having a steam-engine to work up the mortar preparatory to moulding, and having a patent compressing apparatus that gives a neat smooth surface to the brick while it imparts solidity and firmness to the entire mass. The furnaces are constructed of stone and faced with fireproof brick, having a general finish which is rarely seen in such establishments.

I was particularly impressed with the simplicity of the tile-making. The mortar was first spread upon a flat board by the hand of a stout negro fellow, and then another passed a scraper over this, to remove the superfluous layer, when a third turned it upon the convex mould which gives it the proper shape, and bears it to a shelf, upon which it remains until sufficiently dry to be put into the furnace for the action of the fire.

In addition to the above-named articles there are also manufactured here various household wares, such as water tanks, or jars of very large size for keeping in public or private houses, earthen bottles shaped like demijohns, bowls, stew-pans, and which are used in place of metal vessels very generally.

The material used is a combination of the clay taken from the hillside with the mud of the low land, and while neither separately would be well adapted to the purpose, this mixture makes an excellent mortar for moulding and burning. There is not a large quantity of brick or tile on hand, but some of all the varieties of style and size, showing the capacity of the establishment to meet any demand.