THE BANANA PLANT is too well known to take up much space here. There are in Pernambuco three species of it; the _banana curta_ or short banana; this is a small fruit, not exceeding two inches in length;—the _banana comprida_ or long banana, which is the plantain;—and lately the third species has been introduced, and has obtained the strange name of the _banana de quatro vintems_ or four _vintems_ banana, because the clusters of the fruit are so large that each cluster may be sold for four _vintems_,—rather more than 5_d._ I do not think that as much utility is derived from the plant as it is capable of affording; it is not so generally used as a food by the negroes, as it ought to be. The _banana curta_, with dry _farinha_, is a common breakfast among people of colour.[187] THE BATATAS.—Of these there are several species; but that which I had the most opportunities of seeing was the _batata roxa_ or purple potatoe, which is so called from the purple tinge of the pulp after it has been boiled; this is the best of the tribe. The taste is pleasant, and would be still more so if it was not rather sweet. The _batata_ is a creeping plant, and is re-produced from the roots, or from the sprouts of the branches. If the branches of roots that have been pulled up remain upon the ground, and a shower of rain falls soon after they have been broken off, their vegetation will recommence. The _batatas_ are at present planted more as a luxury for the planter’s house than as food for the negroes; but I do not think that there is any plant which is more capable, or even so capable, of affording assistance to the mandioc as this; and perhaps it might supply its place. The mandioc should be supplanted, if any thing else could be discovered to answer the purpose of a staple article of food; for it is uncertain in yielding its crops, and requires the best land. To neither of these disadvantages would, I rather think, the _batata_ be found subject. The European potatoe has been planted, in several instances, at Pernambuco; the first crop is as well tasted as the roots from which it was produced, but the potatoes were small; a second crop, being obtained from the same family of roots, has been sweetish, and on advancing, the potatoes become still more similar to the _batata_ of the country[188]. Yet the plants appear to be totally different from each other, for the Brazil _batata_ or potatoe is produced from a creeper. TOBACCO is planted upon almost all the sugar-plantations, and by a majority of persons of the lower classes, for their own use. A considerable quantity is imported from the southern provinces of Brazil into Pernambuco. The ants do not molest the plant, but in the parts of the country which are much infested by these insects, the peasants mix the seed of the tobacco with wood ashes before they strew with it the ground which they are about to sow. The ants have an antipathy to the ashes, and thus the seed is preserved.