io de Janeiro, St
Vincent, and others. The country was discovered in 1590; but even at
this day the Portuguese have not penetrated above eighty leagues
into the interior. The soil is good, and the country would doubtless
produce abundance of corn and wine for the use of its inhabitants;
but, from a principle of policy, the colonists are not permitted to
cultivate these productions, and are consequently supplied with them
from Portugal. It is the common opinion that the ancient inhabitants
were _anthropophagi_, or cannibals, and it is even said that human
flesh was sold in their markets, as commonly as beef and mutton, but
of this there is no authentic proof.[4]

[Footnote 4: There is no doubt that at least some of the tribes
roasted and eat their prisoners, like the Caribs of the West Indies.
But certainly they had not arrived to that state of civilization as
to have markets; and beef and mutton were unknown in America, till
carried there from Europe.--E.]

Such of the natives as were seen were large dark-complexioned men,
having thick lips, flat noses, and very white teeth. The Portuguese
are numerous in Brazil, both Creoles, and such as come from time to
time from Portugal, to repair their broken fortunes. A little time
before the arrival of Roggewein, the Portuguese had discovered a
diamond mine not far from St Sebastian, of which at that time they
were not in full possession, but were meditating an expedition against
the Indians, in order to become sole masters of so valuable a prize;
and with this view they invited the Dutch to join them, promising them
a share in the riches in the event of success. By these means, nine
of our soldiers were tempted to desert. I know not the success of this
expedition; but it is probable that it succeeded, as great quantities
of diamonds have since been imported from Brazil into Europe. They are
said to be found on the tops of mountains among a peculiar red earth
containing a great deal of gold; and, being washed down by the great
rains and torrents into the vallies, are there gathered in lavaderas
by negroes employed for the purpose.

Brazil abounds with numerous sorts of beasts, birds, and fish, both
wild and tame. They have tigers that do a great deal of mischief,
also elephants in great abundance, the teeth of which are of great
value.[5] There is no country on earth where serpents, and other
venomous reptiles, are more frequent, or of larger size. So far as
the Portuguese p