number
I have seen collected together in any part of the country, but the
excessive heat of the climate had wrought a remarkable change in their
appearance, their skin being wholly destitute of wool and replaced by a
short hair, not unlike that of a cow. In the same manner goats lose the
long hair natural to them in cold countries, which proves how much the
economy of animals can suit itself to change of circumstances. On the
following morning we traversed a country still abounding with the
elegant Carnahuba palm, and numerous small fresh-water lakes, teeming
with wild ducks and other kinds of water-fowl, and arrived at a place
where there are several houses near to the Bio Jaquaribe, in the
neighbourhood of which some small trees of Cochlospermum serratifolium, DC,
were beautifully in flower, their large golden blossoms gleaming in the
sun bike oranges; here I found that in consequence of the pack-saddles
being too narrow, the back of the cargo horse was so much galled, that
it could no longer carry its load, in consequence I was obliged to hire
another from a person whom I met going up to led with loads of salt,
and who had some spare animals with him. The weather being fine, I
preferred taking up my quarters under the shade of a broad-spreading
wild fig tree standing some distance from any habitation, although I
was invited by the owner of one of the houses to accept the
accommodation it afforded.
As
the person whose horse I had hired could not leave till the following
day, I was obliged, against my will, to await his convenience. Soon
after my arrival I sent Pedro to purchase some milk for breakfast, and
he returned with a large basinful, for which he said the people would
not take money; and in the course of the forenoon I had similar
presents sent to me from two other persons. During the season of the
rains, and for a few months afterwards, milk is very abundant, and of
excellent quality, but it is nowhere to be procured except in large
towns, during the last four or five months of the dry season. The
inhabitants prepare a little cheese, but have no idea of making butter;
the milk remaining after breakfast, for they milk their cows only in
the morning, is allowed to stand till night, when from the heat of the
Flickr
Stumbleupon
Scribd
