296 



STATE OF RECIFE. 



I accepted the ofter which was made to me by 

 him through whose great kindness my health 

 had been so much benefited, after the severe at- 

 tack of fever which I had suffered in the preced- 

 ing year. The first few weeks were passed in 

 visits to my friends and acquaintance, with some 

 of whom I occasionally staid a few days in the 

 neighbourhood of the town, which was now 

 much deserted, according to the usual custom, 

 at this season of the year. 



I perceived a considerable difference in the 

 appearance of Recife and of its inhabitants, al- 

 though I had been absent from the place for so 

 short a period. Several houses had been altered; 

 the heavy sombre lattice-work had given place, 

 in many instances, to glass windows and iron 

 balconies. Some few families had arrived here 

 from Lisbon, and three from England ; the ladies 

 of the former had shown the example of walking 

 to mass in broad day -light ; and those of the 

 latter were in the habit of going out to walk 

 towards the close of the day, for amusement. 

 These improvements being once introduced and 

 practised by a few persons, were soon adopted 

 by some, who had been afraid to be the first, and 

 by others who found that they were pleasant. 

 Formal silks and satins, too, were becoming a less 

 usual dress on high days and holidays, and were 

 now much superseded by white and coloured 

 muslins, and other cotton manufactures. The 

 u 



