Chapter V: Ceara

PERNAMBUCO TO CRATO.

The Author leaves Pernambuco in a Coasting Vessel—Description
of the Voyage—Touches at Cape San Roque—Arrives at
Aracaty—Seaport of Province of Ceará—Town described—Its
Trade—Whole Province subject to great droughts—Commencement of
Journey into the Interior—Passes Villa de San Bernardo—Arid
nature of the Country—Catingas—Arrives at Icó—Town
described—Journey continued—Villa da Lavra de Mangabeira—Gold
Washings abandoned—Country begins to Improve—Reaches the
Villa do Crato—Town described—Low state of morals among the
Inhabitants—Sugar Plantations—Mode of Manufacture—Coarse
kind of Sugar formed into Cakes, called Rapadura, in which
state it is used throughout the Province—State of Cultivation
in the Neighbourhood—Productions of the Country—Serra de
Araripe—Different kinds of Timber—Wild Fruits—Wandering tribes
of Gypsies frequent—Great religious Festival—Climate—Diseases 113