Chap. XXXI. KINDNESS OF PORTUGUESE. 653 



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 for ever of 

 Portuguese 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 froni the pertinacity with which some of them have 

 pursued the slave-trade, and partly from the contrast which they 

 now offer to then illustrious ancestors — the foremost navigators 

 of the world. If my specification of their loudnesses will tend to 

 engender a more respectful feeling to the nation, I shall consider 

 myself well rewarded. We had three large canoes in the com- 

 pany which had lately come up with goods front Senna. They 

 are made very large and strong, much larger than any we ever 

 saw in the interior, 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 furnished with such a covering, so I sat quite comfortably. 



