698 KINDNESS OF PORTUGUESE. 



Nunes, to treat me as they would himself. From every one of 

 these gentlemen I am happy to acknowledge* that I received most 

 disinterested kindness, and I ought to speak well forever of Portu- 

 guese hospitality. I have noted each little act of civility received, 

 because somehow or other we have come to hold the Portuguese 

 character in rather a low estimation. This may have arisen 

 partly from the pertinacity with which some of them have pursued 

 the slave-trade, and partly from the contrast which they now offer 

 to their illustrious ancestors — the foremost navigators of the world. 

 If my specification of their kindnesses will tend to engender a 

 more respectful feeling to the nation, I shall consider myself well 

 rewarded. We had three large canoes in the company which had 

 lately come up with goods from Senna. They are made very 

 large and strong, much larger than any we ever saw in the inte- 

 rior, and might strike with great force against a rock and not be 

 broken. The men sit at the stern when paddling, and there is 

 usually a little shed made over a part of the canoe to shade the 

 passengers from the sun. The boat in which I went was fur- 

 nished with such a covering, so I sat quite comfortably. 



