THE PEASANTRY. 



93 



enjoy by this moans ; by which they are brought 

 to an equality with their husbands. In the 

 above general character of the free people, I do 

 not include the planters of large property, for 

 their acquirements are oftentimes considerable ; 

 and the Indians, too, are quite separate, owing to 

 their degraded state ; however I include the 

 white persons of small property : it is surprising, 

 though extremely pleasing, to see how little dif- 

 ference is made between a white man, a mulatto, 

 and a Creole negro, if all are equally poor and 

 if all have been born free. I say surprising, be- 

 cause in the English, French, and Dutch colo- 

 nies, the distinction is so decidedly marked ; and 

 among the Spaniards, lines are even struck be- 

 tween the several shades of colour. 



I recollect Apollinario telling me of his dis- 

 tress on one occasion, when he resided in the 

 Varzea. He met the vicar of that parish on 

 horseback with the sacrament, which he had 

 been taking to some sick person. The rain 

 poured in torrents, and the mud in the road was 

 half way up to the knees ; but yet it was neces- 

 sary to pay the usual respect, consequently tljp 

 old Creole went down upon one knee, and as the 

 priest passed, he cried out, "Pardon me, Si/ 

 Vicar, for this one knee, but if I was to put both 

 to the ground, I could not again rise." He told 

 me this with perfect gravity, and I perceived that 



