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B R A S I L. 



Brasil. filled with vermin, which are searched for without 

 ' % disguise, and a certain cutaneous disorder, the con- 

 sequence of filth, which is accounted so disgraceful 

 in this country, is there so universal, that no one 

 thinks of concealing it. Notwithstanding the abun- 

 dance of cattle, provisions are bad, as the inhabitants 

 are incapable of those attentions which, in a warm 

 climate, where perspiration is so profuse, are neces- 

 sary in order to fatten them. There are no inns for 

 the accommodation of strangers : A person who takes 

 up his residence, for however short a time, must hire 

 and furnish a house for himself. 



The most profound ignorance reigns throughout 

 this country ; and there seems as yet to be no im- 

 pulse of curiosity which can afford the hope of its 

 speedy dispersion. Some naturalists belonging to a 

 British vessel, having engaged in an excursion into 

 the country, and being seen wandering through its 

 unfrequented tracts, the government took alarm at 

 so unaccountable a conduct, which was removed by 

 the assurance that they were catching butterflies. 

 Thus the inexhaustible field which this country opens 

 for the cultivation of botany and natural history is 

 yet untrodden j and even the condition of the neigh- 

 bouring Indian nations, though so interesting and ac- 

 cessible an object of enquiry, has not received any 

 illustration from them. 



There is one characteristic, very little to be ex- 

 pected under such a government, in which the Bra- 

 silian colonists do not seem to fall short of the freest 

 people of the new world ; this is in the general sen- 

 timent of equality which pervades all ranks. The 

 white servant converses with his master on the most 

 equal footing, and instead of promptly obeying his 

 commands, enters into a discussion on their propriety, 

 and often advises a different course of proceeding ; 

 all which the master takes in good part, and often 

 adopts his suggestions. The same manners prevail 

 among the troops, and even on board ships of war. 

 Never an order is issued, which does not become an 

 immediate subject of debate and dispute ; till the 

 captain, who apparently is not so indulgent, termi- 

 nates it by the vigorous application of a strong cane, 

 which he carries constantly about with him. An 

 Englishman, who ventured to remonstrate against 

 the very liberal use of this instrument, was assured, 

 that " no work could go on without it." The naval 

 officers, indeed, seem to know very little how to keep 

 up their dignity, since they are often seen engaged 

 in the same card party with the private sailors. 

 Negroes. This sentiment of equality, which, though attend- 

 ed with some inconveniences, cannot be -considered 

 as the worst feature in the character of the Bra- 

 silians, operates with peculiar advantage in mitigat- 

 ing the severity of negro slavery. This class assume 

 in their manner the same equality which is practised 

 by the other inhabitants ; they are well fed, and not 

 hard worked ; and they are allowed two days in the 

 week to labour for themselves, by which means many 

 are enabled to purchase their freedom, while others 

 obtain it by favour. It was even enacted by the late 

 King of Portugal, that, after remaining in bondage 

 for ten years, they should be entitled to their liberty ; 

 but though this law has never been repealed, its exe- 

 cution has been evaded by the planters. The ne- 



groes whose condition is hardest, are those -employ- 

 ed in the mines, particularly of diamonds ; for when v 



suspected of swallowing these, with a view to secrete 

 them, violent emetics and cathartics are often adminis- 

 tered, with the view of making them disgorge the 

 hidden treasure ; a treatment the more severe, as it 

 is often founded on unjust suspicion. 



The Indians form the third division in the popula- Indian 

 tion of Brasil. The conduct of the court of Lis- 

 bon with regard to this unfortunate class of men, 

 has, from the first, been singularly liberal and hu- 

 mane. This has been principally owing to the soli- 

 citations of the Jesuit missionaries, who may justly 

 be considered as the principal benefactors of the new 

 world. The first settlers, in their predatory war- 

 fare with the natives, made slaves of all those who 

 fell into their hapds, and probably undertook expe- 

 ditions for the express purpose of obtaining them. 

 These practices were, in 1570, prohibited by King 

 Sebastian ; the prohibition was confirmed, in 1595, 

 by Philip II.; and successive regulations to the same 

 effect were issued at the beginning of the following 

 century. The necessities of the colonists, however, 

 who could cultivate their lands only by the labour 

 of Indians, evaded the execution of all these laws, 

 even though they were repeated in a still more formal 

 manner, in 1647. The court, however, continued 

 still indefatigable in issuing its mandates, and at 

 length, in 1755, under the vigorous, and in some 

 respects, enlightened administration of the Marquis 

 of Pombal, the measure was finally carried into exe- 

 cution. The court of Lisbon certainly derive high 

 honour from this unwearied perseverance. The be- 

 nefits, however, which were expected to result from 

 it by the friends of humanity, have not yet been 

 fully realised. The natural indolence of this people, 

 their want of capital, and of opportunity, have pre- 

 vented them from emerging from their original de- 

 gradation. They are employed only in the most 

 menial offices ; they form the sole exception to the 

 general system of equality, and enjoy a consideration 

 decidedly inferior to that even of the negro slaves. 

 Their intercourse is almost solely between them- 

 selves ; and their quiet suspicious character indi- 

 cates the state of humiliation in which they are 

 held. 



Having thus given a general sketch of the disco- 

 very and history of Brasil, and of the different pro- 

 vinces into which it is divided, we shall conclude this 

 article with the information which we have been able 

 to collect respecting the statistics and commerce of 

 this interesting portion of the new world. 



When the Europeans first settled in Brasil, the 

 country was extremely unhealthy, from the thick fo- 

 rests with which it was covered. But as the culti- 

 vation of sugar increased, and when the woods were 

 cut down, the soil became fertile, and the climate 

 mild and healthy. In consequence of the refreshing 

 winds which constantly blow from the sea, the air is 

 not only cool, but, during the night, it is so chill, 

 that the natives are obliged to light fires in their huts. 

 The northern provinces are subject to severe storms 

 and heavy rains, but those in the south are more fertile 

 and temperate. ' The rainy season in Brasil begins in 

 April and ends in August; and though the tempera- 



