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BRAZILIAN MAJOR. 



upon which he had placed his saddle was a colt, 

 and too young to bear any further weight. Thus 

 was this major, in true Brazilian campaigning style, 

 in his shirt and drawers, his alpargatas or san- 

 dals upon his feet, his musquet upon his shoul- 

 der, his sword by his side, hanging from a belt 

 over one shoulder, and his long knife in his 

 girdle. He was a stout, handsome man, about 

 forty years of age, and where his skin was not 

 exposed, it was as white as that of a European, 

 but his face, neck, and legs, were of a dark 

 brown colour. This man, who at other times 

 enjoyed all the comforts that his country affords, 

 who was respected for his rank and wealth, was 

 obliged to make this journey absolutely to save 

 the lives of his family. True it is, that he is 

 not to be considered as we should persons of his 

 situation in Europe ; like most of these people, 

 he had been from his infancy daily accustomed 

 to what men in a more civilised state would 

 account very great hardships. 



The alpargatas are pieces of leather, of a size 

 rather larger than the soles of the feet of the 

 person for whom they are intended. Two 

 loops are fastened in front of each, through 

 which two of the toes are placed ; there is a ring 

 of leather round each ankle, through which are 

 drawn and tied two thongs, which proceed from 

 each side of the hinder part. These are the 

 shoes of the Brazilians, who live removed from 



