SOCIETY AT SEARA. 



199 



Jewel's still look forwards to his return. The 

 loss of their chiefs broke the power and union 

 of the clan, and they have had disputes among 

 themselves. Brazil is likewise undergoing a 

 change of manners, and emerging rapidly f-om 

 semi-barbarism. 



A young man of Seara had been, a short time 

 before my arrival, to the distance of thirty 

 leagues into the interior, accompanied by two 

 constables, to serve a writ upon a man of some 

 property for a debt ; they rode good horses, that 

 they might perform their errand before he could 

 have any knowledge that they w T ere going, and 

 might attempt, in consequence, any thing against 

 their lives. It is a dangerous service to go 

 into the interior to recover debts. The Portu- 

 guese law does not allow of arrest for debt, 

 but by serving a writ any property which was 

 sent down to the town to be shipped might be 

 seized. 



I was received at Seara most hospitably ; the 

 name of Englishman was a recommendation. 

 In the morning I generally remained at home, 

 and in the afternoon rode out with three or four 

 of the young men of the place, who were much 

 superior to any I had expected to find here, and 

 in the evening a large party usually assembled 

 at the house of Senhor Marcos •, his company 

 and that of his wife and daughter would have 

 been very pleasant any where, but was particu- 

 o 4 



