VOYAGE UP THE COAST TO PARA. 135 
the fruit. The trunk is perfectly smooth, the fruit growing 
in a heavy cluster of berries, just below the crown of leaves 
on its summit. The negro fastens a cord or a strip of palm- 
leaf around his insteps, thus binding his feet together that 
they may not slide apart on the smooth stem, and by means 
of this kind of stirrup he contrives to cling to the slippery 
trunk and scramble up. 
We were much interested in seeing here an admirably 
well conducted institution for the education of poor or- 
phans. Its chief aim is to educate them, not as scholars, 
though they receive elementary instruction in reading, 
writing, and ciphering, but to teach them a variety of 
occupations by which they can earn an honest livelihood. 
They are trained in several trades, are taught to play on 
a number of instruments, and there is also a school of 
design connected with the establishment. A faultless or- 
der and scrupulous neatness prevailed through the whole 
building, which was not the result of an exceptional prep- 
aration, since our visit was wholly unexpected. This sur- 
prised us the more, because, notwithstanding their fond- 
ness for bathing, order and neatness in their houses are 
not a virtue among the Brazilians. This may be owing to 
slave labor, rarely anything better than eye-service. The 
large dormitories looked fresh and airy, with the hammocks 
rolled up and laid on a shelf, each one above the peg to 
which it belonged ; the shoes were hung on nails along 
the walls, and the little trunks, holding the clothing of 
each scholar, were neatly arranged beneath them. On the 
upper story was the hospital, a large, well-ventilated room, 
with numerous windows commanding beautiful views, and 
a cool breeze blowing through it. Here were cots instead 
of hammocks, but I thought the sick boys might prefer 
