224 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 
(very partially) concealed by a blue rag, which I suppose 
in some early period of the world's history must have been 
a shirt ; this extraordinary figure is surmounted by an old 
straw hat full of holes, bent in every direction, and tied 
under the chin by a red string. Had he not been a tem- 
porary substitute, we should have tried to obtain a more 
respectable livery for him ; but to-day he gives place to an 
Indian lad, Bruno by name, who presents a more decent 
appearance, though he seems rather bewildered by his new 
office. At present his idea of waiting on the table seems 
to be to sit on the floor and look at us while we eat. How- 
ever, we hope to break him in gradually. He looks as if 
he had not been Ions; redeemed from the woods, for his 
c? / 
face is deeply tattooed with black, and his lips and nose 
are pierced with holes, reminding one of the becoming 
vanities he has renounced in favor of civilization.* Be- 
sides Bruno we have a girl, Alexandrina by name, who, 
by her appearance, has a mixture of Indian and black blood 
in her veins. She promises very well, and seems to have 
the intelligence of the Indian with the greater pliability 
of the negro. 
September 29th. One of the great charms of our resi- 
dence here is, that we have so many pleasant walks within 
easy reach. My favorite walk in the early morning is to 
the wood on the brow of the hill. From the summit, the 
sunrise is lovely over the village below, the lake with its 
many picturesque points and inlets, and the forests on the 
opposite shores. From this spot a little path through the 
bushes brings one at once into a thick, beautiful wood. 
* It is a very general habit among the South American Indians to pierce 
the nose, cars, and lips with holes, in which they hang pieces of wood and 
feathers, as ornaments. 
