178 TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



handsomest ; the principal street runs half a league 

 along the slope of the Morro. The houses are 

 built of stone, two stories high, covered with tiles, 

 the greater part are white-washed, and, though 

 not very striking in their external appearance, 

 are convenient, and adapted to the elevated situ- 

 ation of the town. The most remarkable of the 

 public buildings are ten chapels, two considerable 

 parish churches, the exchequer, the theatre, where 

 plays are acted by an itinerant company, the 

 Latin school, the town-house, with the prison, 

 most of the inmates of which are murderers, whose 

 crimes have originated in robbery or intrigue ; 

 but above all, the castle, the residence of the 

 governor, which is defended by some cannon, 

 and situated on the highest projection of the 

 hill, commands part of the city and the market- 

 place, and enjoys a fine prospect over the whole 

 country. 



This place, though hidden in a narrow defile 

 and surrounded by mountains and unfruitful 

 stony campos, was always a favourite spot, to 

 which not only Paulistas, but even Portuguese, 

 frequently resorted in great numbers. The popu- 

 lation of all Minas is now stated at half a million, 

 and that of the city at 8500 souls. In the latter, 

 the number of Portuguese from Europe, is pro- 

 portionably great. The men capable of bearing 

 arms are divided into two regiments of auxiliary 

 cavalry (militia), fourteen companies of local 



