3 6 RIO DE JANEIRO CHAP, n 



with long, lank, black hair. As to their policy, or manner 

 of living when at home, I could not learn anything. 



The military here consist of twelve regiments of 

 regulars, six Portuguese and six Creoles, and as many of 

 provincial militia, who may be assembled upon occasion. 

 To the regulars the inhabitants show great deference, for as 

 Mr. Forster told me, if any of the people did not pull off 

 their hats when they meet an officer, he would immediately 

 knock them down, which custom renders the people remark- 

 ably civil to strangers who have at all a gentlemanlike 

 appearance. All the officers of these regiments are expected 

 to attend three times a day at " Sala " or the viceroy's 

 levee, where they formally ask for commands, and are 

 constantly answered " there is nothing new." This policy 

 is intended, as I have been told, to prevent them from going 

 into the country, which it most effectually does. 



Assassinations are, I fancy, more frequent here than in 

 Lisbon, as the churches still take upon themselves to give 

 protection to criminals. One accident of the kind happened 

 in the sight of S. Evans, our coxswain, a man whom I can 

 depend upon. He saw two people talking together, to all 

 appearance in a friendly manner, when one suddenly drew 

 a knife, stabbed the other twice, and ran away pursued by 

 some negroes who likewise saw the act. What the further 

 event of this was I could not learn. 



Of the country I know rather more than of the town, as 

 I was ashore one whole day. In that time I saw much 

 cleared ground, but chiefly of an indifferent quality, though 

 doubtless there is much that is very good, as the sugar and 

 tobacco which is sent to Europe from hence plainly testify ; 

 but all that I saw was employed in breeding cattle, of which 

 they have great plenty, though their pastures are the worst 

 I ever saw on account of the shortness of the grass. Con- 

 sequently the beef sold in the market, though tolerably 

 cheap, is so lean that an Englishman can hardly eat it. I 

 likewise saw great plantations of Jatropha Manihot, which is 

 called in the West Indies Cassada, and here Farinha de Pao 

 or wooden meal, a very proper name, for the cakes they make 



