NARRATIVE. 181 



or stockings. We then passed through a range of kitchens and 

 hovels, inhabited by slaves; and the steams from the former, 

 conveyed so strong a sensation of dirt, that it required a tolerable 

 appetite to encounter the food which awaited us. Our progress 

 was impeded by throngs of black, mulatto, and Portuguese 

 children, of all sizes. We ascended a flight of dirty stairs, and on 

 entering the room, were presented to the Governors family. His 

 wife, who is at the same time his niece, is fair, and possesses more 

 charms of face than figure, for, added to the usual diminutive size 

 of her countrywomen, she had so completely adapted her style of 

 dress to the climate, that she needed a few elastic bandages, to 

 put all in order again. Her sisters were both interesting, and all 

 three evidently superior to the rest, whom, in deference to my 

 sex, I cannot be uncharitable enough to describe, save one, who 

 was remarkable for being at that time a bride. It is a cunning 

 trick of young men, cadets for instance, to marry some old despairing 

 relation of Senhor IManoel's, that they may claim a seat at his 

 table, a room in his house, and save themselves the expense of 

 living. The present instance proved how unnecessary were per- 

 sonal charms, manners, accomphshments, or fortune ; for the bride, 

 who had been a widow, was on the wrong side of forty, her 

 countenance presenting a fine contrast of red pimples on a yellow 

 ground, and her large Umbs, and sullen looks, seemed to promise, 

 that, when the first transports (which to my astonishment were 

 not reserved for tete d tetes) were passed, she would become the 

 preceptress of her husband, a boy of eighteen, and not spoil him 

 for want of manual discipline ; such chastisements being by no 

 means rare on either side, in the annals of Portuguese conjugal 

 happiness. This pair sat close together, almost on the same chair, 

 ate off the same plate, and drank out of the same glass, the lady 

 acting as a jackal, in clawing every thing she could catch for her lord. 

 Wlien all were assembled, including visitors, strangers, relations. 



