Hunting a home in Brazil

by James McFadden Gaston

From this point we retraced our steps for a few miles, and then descended a stream called Braço de Gado for six or seven miles along a low, flat, and broad bottom land, having elevated lands on each side. A tenant occupies a house where we entered this territory, and there is near by an extensive fall in the stream above-named, which would be available for an overshot wheel of any desired size.

This point is particularly suitable for the location of machinery, as it is but four miles from Xiririca, with a road already in use which could be readily made to serve for wagons. It is, besides, near the direct line of communication between this place and Cananea.

In the course of the Braço de Gado several small streams enter from each side, affording water for the several humble families who occupy houses at different points by the favor of the owner.

The ridges upon each side, approaching a mountainous elevation, constitute the boundary lines of this property; and the breadth varies from three to four miles, while the length is considered to be six miles. The slopes of the hills on each side admit for the most part of ready cultivation; and the soil being of a dark gray aspect with a mulatto clay base, is adapted to all the staples, yet the most irregular portions would be most appropriately used for coffee. I saw good corn growing far up on the side of one of these slopes, and corn and rice were also seen upon the level plain below, but was too young to determine what would be the result.

This low land is generally level, and yet is not at all marshy, as the stream has a deep channel below the surface of the ground with abrupt angular banks, so that the water does not overflow except in immense falls of rain causing a flood of water.

The earth is solid throughout this bottom, and the road firm and good, except at the crossings of some of the small branches. With very little work a fine wagon-road could be made extending along this stream on a level route, communicating above with the road to Xiririca, or extending below some four or five miles over the same kind of surface to the Rio Jacupiranga, which is navigable with the largest canoes thence to its mouth.

Tuesday, January 16, 1866.

We spent the night at the house of a mulatto man named Senor Bartholomew da Costa; and having a heavy rain, the Braço de Gado was so full this morning that it could not be forded without swimming. Notwithstanding this flood of water, there were very few points at which it overflowed the high banks, and yet it did not fall sufficiently during the day for us to cross it, so that we remained at this place observing what was to be seen about the premises of this gentleman of color.

A patch of coffee, having some two thousand trees, was examined, which afforded a poor prospect of a yield. This was, in part, perhaps, attributable to being planted with a southern exposure, instead of facing towards the east; yet it is most likely that the soil is deficient in those elements suited to the production of coffee.

Corn and rice were growing well in the flat land along the stream, but most of it was too young to form a proper opinion as to the yield. Observing that the rice was missing in various places, I was told by the owner that it had been eaten by rats which live in the woods, of whose voracity there is no reason to doubt; though this is the first time that these rats have been heard of in the country.