38 



VISIT JO A BRAZILIAN FAMILY. 



but entertaining ; there was much wit and sport. 

 The ladies of the house, joined by several others 

 in the evening, talked a great deal, and would 

 allow of no subject into which they conld not 

 enter. 



It will be observed from what I have described* 

 and from what I still have to mention, that no 

 rule can be laid down for the society of the 

 place in question ; families of equal rank, and 

 of equal wealth and importance, are often of 

 manners totally different. The fact is, that 

 society is undergoing a rapid change ; not that 

 the people imitate European customs, though 

 these have some effect, but as there is more 

 wealth, more luxuries are required ; as there 

 is more education, higher and more polished 

 amusements are sought for; as the mind be- 

 comes more enlarged, from intercourse with other 

 nations, and from reading, many customs are 

 seen in a different light ; so that the same per- 

 sons insensibly change, and in a few years ridi- 

 cule and are disgusted with many of those very 

 habits which, if they reflect for a moment, they 

 will recollect were practised but a short time 

 before by themselves. 



On St. Anne's day, the 29th July, two young 

 Englishmen and myself proceeded by invita- 

 tion to the house of one of the first person- 

 ages of Pernambuco ; a man in place, and a 

 planter, possessing three sugar works in Hit- 



