TREATMENT OF SLAVES. 



207 



so circumstanced are called, are frequently to be 

 met with, and I heard of few exceptions to the 

 general kindness with which they are treated. 

 Public feeling is much against the refusing to 

 accept and rear an engeitado ; the owner of a 

 house, who is in easy circumstances, and yet 

 sends the infant from his own door to the pub- 

 lic institution which is provided for its reception, 

 is generally spoken of in terms of indignation. 

 Sometimes a poor man will find one of these 

 presents at his door, and he will generally place 

 it at the landholder's threshold on the follow- 

 ing night ; this is accounted excusable and even 

 meritorious, for at the Great House the child has 

 nearly a certainty of being well taken care of. 



I have observed that, generally speaking, 

 Europeans are less indulgent to their slaves than 

 Brazilians ; the former feed them well, but they 

 require from the poor wretches more labour than 

 they can perform, whilst the latter allow the 

 affairs of their estates to continue in the way in 

 whicli it has been accustomed to be directed. 

 This difference between the two descriptions of 

 owners is easily accounted for ; the European 

 has probably purchased part of his slaves on 

 credit, and has during the whole course of his 

 life made the accumulation of riches his chief 

 object. The Brazilian inherits his estate, and as 

 nothing urges him to the necessity of obtaining 

 large profits, he continues the course that has 



