52 GENTRY OF BRAZIL. 
but many of the ladies have brown, and even 
very light hair. Their dress was tastefully ar- 
ranged in the Parisian fashion: the art of the 
toilet appears indeed to be the only one they 
study, as their education does not always pro- 
ceed so far as reading and writing, although 
they are not deficient in natural capabilities ; 
their conversation is often as graceful and pi- 
quant as that of European ladies. Nor is ge- 
neral information much more extended among 
the gentlemen, as the following anecdote will 
testify. When, in 1817, the Russian frigate 
Kamschatka anchored in the Port of Rio Ja- 
neiro, it was visited by many Brazilians of rank, 
and amongst others by an officer who expressed 
much surprise at finding a crucifix m the cabin. 
He knew, indeed, that the Russians professed 
the Greek religion, but was wholly ignorant 
that this church formed any part of the Chris- 
tian community. 
It is the custom here to pay visits in the 
theatre, which are indeed more highly prized 
than those made at their houses, as the atten- 
tion is more publicly manifested. On these 
occasions the animated intercourse between the 
