228 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



voice everywhere heard, was explained by Mr. Drayton; for it ap- 

 peared, that "the peasantry in their conversation and music, habi- 

 tually use the minor key." 



During the few hours spent on shore at the Cape Verd Islands, I 

 saw only three or four Whites; who were residing in the town of 

 Porto Praya. They were sallow and languid; having evidently suf- 

 fered in their health, from the powerful influence of the sun. 



At Rio Jatieiro, I did not find the like marks of a deterioratinfj in- 

 fluence in the climate; and the popular prejudice against the general 

 healthiness of the Tropics, was soon perceived to be without founda- 

 tion. In the city, artisans direct from Europe, were seen working 

 steadily at their various vocations; some of which, such as that of the 

 blacksmitli, were peculiarly oppressive. 



In the course of an excursion beyond the Organ Mountains, I had 

 an opportunity of witnessing some of the hardships of a life in Interior 

 Brazil. I had previously imagined with many in the North, that the 

 bane of tropical climates, consisted in the absence of a stimulus to in- 

 dustry ; and that the soil poured forth, almost spontaneously, a profu- 

 sion of dainties in addition to the necessaries of life ; I was therefore 

 unprepared to find the stigma of luxury reflected back upon my own 

 countrymen, even upon those undergoing the reputed privations of our 

 frontiers. Among other peculiarities in manners, derived to all ap- 

 pearance from the parent country, the seclusion of the women may 

 be mentioned ; for their existence in certain families, appeared to be 

 known chiefly through report. 



During our short stay at the mouth of the Rio Negro, in North 

 Patagonia, I did not come in contact with many of the inhabitants. 

 One of the pilots, was a Frenchman; and the other, an Englishman; 

 and I met with three individuals from the United States. 



The remainder, about twenty in number, were 'guachos,' or mounted 

 herdsmen ; who (with the exception of some Negroes) were of Spanish 

 descent; and who M'ere rendered conspicuous in the distance, by the 

 scarlet and white of their fantastic dress. It has been said, that the 

 guachos, "owing to their being perpetually on horseback, appear per- 

 sonally to disadvantage when dismounted;" I did not remark this; but 

 I saw some well-formed men, who moreover did not appear to be defi- 

 cient in either intelligence or general information. I observed, how- 



