286 THE LOWER AMAZONS. Chap. YII. 



now a distinguished citizen of the new Province of the 

 Amazons, having been elected, several times in succes- 

 sion, President of the Provincial Chamber. Together 

 with many other natives of the Amazons region, he 

 affords a proof that an equatorial climate in the new 

 world has not necessarily a deteriorating effect on the 

 white race. He is a well-built man : above the middle 

 height, with handsome features, and a fine, healthy, 

 ruddy complexion. He is a most lively and energetic 

 fellow. When we first landed at Villa Nova, in 1849, 

 the church was being repaired, and as carpenters were 

 scarce, he had buckled to the work himself, and I 

 found him, with sleeves turned up, sawing and planing 

 as though he was well used to the trade. Next to Padre 

 Torquato, Senhor Meirelles, well deserves mention ; a 

 more sensible, intelligent and kind-hearted man I 

 never met with in Brazil. He also held some ap- 

 pointment under Government, but his time was chiefly 

 taken up with the management of his plantations 

 situated three miles below the village. Both these 

 worthy men were fond of reading, and subscribed regu- 

 larly to Bio Janeiro daily newspapers. Senhor Meirelles 

 spent a deal of money on dear books, which he sent for 

 by a parcel at a time from the metropolis, 2000 miles 

 off. Some of these were Portuguese periodicals, on the 

 plan of the English Penny Magazine ; most of them, 

 however, were translations of romances chiefly French. 

 They cii'culated freely amongst the many readers at 

 Villa Nova. At the time of my visit " Uncle Tom's 

 Cabin," translated into Portuguese, was a gi-eat favourite. 

 I found a love of reading not at all uncommon amongst 



