102 MARTIN RATTLER.

shape of farina. It is very good food; one acre gives
as much nutriment as six acres of wheat.

“Of the trees you have seen something. There
are thousands of kinds, and most magnificent. Some
of them are more than thirty feet round about. There
are two hundred different kinds of palms; and so
thick stand the giant trees in many places, with
creeping plants growing between, that it is nob pos-
sible for man to cut his way through the forests in
some parts. Language cannot describe the grandeur
and glory of the Brazilian forests,

“We have numbers of wild horses, and hogs, and
goats; and in the woods are tiger-cats, jaguars, tapirs,
hyenas, sloths, porcupines, and—but you have seen
many things already. If you live you will see more.
I need not tell you of these things; very soon I will
show you some.

“The population of my country consists of the
descendants of Portuguese settlers, native Indians,
and Negroes. Of the latter, some are free, some
slaves. The Indians go about nearly naked. Most
of them are in a savage state: they paint their skins,
and wear gaudy ornaments. The religion of the
country is Roman Catholic, but all religions are tole-
rated; and I have much hope for the future of Brazil,

_in spite of the priests.”