MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 



419 



with the race of beings, but in the 

 dreadful situation to which this 

 one is reduced. Why, therefore, 

 not attempt to improve and to be- 

 nefit the individuals of which it is 

 composed ? 



The slaves of Brazil are regular- 

 ly married according to the forms 

 of the Catholic church ; the bans 

 are published in the same manner 

 as those of free persons; and 1 

 have seen many happy couples (as 

 happy at least as slaves can be) 

 with large families of children 

 rising around them. The masters 

 encourage marriages among their 

 slaves, for it is from these lawful 

 connections that they can expect 

 to increase the number of their 

 Creoles. A slave cannot marry 

 without the consent of his master, 

 for the vicar will not publish the 

 banns of marriage without this 

 sanction. It is likewise permitted 

 that slaves should marry free per- 

 sons ; if the woman is in bondage, 

 the children remain in the same 

 state; but if the man is a slave, 

 and she is free, their offspring is 

 also free. A slave cannot be mar- 

 ried until the requisite prayers 

 have been learnt, the nature of 

 confession be understood, and the 

 sacrament can be received. Upon 

 the estates the master or manager 

 is soon made accjuainted with the 

 predilections of the slaves for each 

 other, and these being discovered, 

 marriage is forth witii determined 

 upon, and the irregular proceed- 

 ings are made lawful. In towns 

 there is more licentiousness among 

 the negroes, as there is among all 

 other classes of men. The passion 

 of love is supposed only to exist in 

 a certain state of civilization, and 

 this may be granted without at the 

 same time declaring that negiocs 



ai'e incapable of lasting attach- 

 ment, without supposing that the 

 regard of each sex is mere animal 

 desire, unconnected with predi- 

 lection. That species of affection 

 which is heightened until personal 

 possession is almost forgotten; 

 doubtless is not felt by human be- 

 ings who are in a state of barba- 

 rism ; but still a negro may be at- 

 tached ; he may fix upon one object 

 in preference to all others. That 

 this is the case, I can vouch ; I 

 have known and have heard of 

 many instances in which punish- 

 ments and other dangers have 

 been braved to visit a chosen one; 

 in which journies by night liave 

 been made after a day of fatigue ; 

 in which great constancy has been 

 shown, and a determination that 

 the feelings of the heart shall not 

 be controlled. 



NAKRATIVE OF A VOVAGE 



Of his Majesty's late Ship Alceste, 

 to the Yellow Sea, S^c S(c. to the 

 Island of Lewchew : By John 

 M'Leod, Surgeon of the Alceste. 



The island of Lewchew is about 

 fifty miles long and from twelve 

 to fifteen broad ; Napa-kiang, our 

 position, (and within five miles of 

 Kint-ching, the capital,) lying in 

 lat. 26° 14' N., long. 127" 52' \" 

 E. This is its south-west point, 

 the main body of the island ex- 

 tending from hence north a little 

 eastwardly. It is washed on the 

 one side by the Northern Pacific 

 Ocean, and on the other by the 

 Tung Hai, or Eastern Sea. 



The rocks about it are all of the 

 coral kind, and immense masses, 

 some assuming very odd shapes, 



2 E 2 were 



