



ill 



<>OCy 



ENGEITADOS. 



ing that so- many excellent women should be 

 found among them, and by no means strange 

 that the disposition of some of them should be 

 injured by this unfortunate direction of their 



infant years. 



As vegetation rapidly advances in such cli- 

 mates, so the animal sooner arrives at maturity 

 than in those of less genial warmth ; and here 

 again education is rendered doubly necessary to 

 lead the mind to new ideas, to curb the passions, 

 to give a sense of honour, and to instil feelings 

 of that species of pride which is so necessary to 

 a becoming line of conduct. The state of so- 

 ciety, the climate, and the celibacy of the nu- 

 merous priesthood, cause the number of illegi- 

 timate children to be very great ; but here the 

 roda dos cngeitado.s, and a custom which shows 

 the natural goodness of the people, prevent the 

 frequent occurrence of infanticide, or rather 

 render it almost unknown. An infant is fre- 

 quently during the night laid at the door of a 

 rich person, and on being discovered in the 

 morning is taken in, and is almost invariably 

 allowed to remain ; it is brought up with the 

 children of the house (if its colour is not too 

 dark to admit of this), certainly as a dependant, 

 but not as a servant ; however a considerable 

 tinge of colour will not prevent it from being 

 reared with the white children. These engei- 

 tad-os, or rejected ones, as individuals who are 



