MANNERS OF THE INHABITANTS. 



311 



They appear to understand perfectly why the earth was provided with 

 meat and clothing. 



The inhabitants of Borba are principally negroes, who are very noisy, 

 both in-doors and out ; one-half of them are slaves. Those of Portu- 

 guese descent are extremely indolent. We observed few children of 

 any color. The women wear their hair put up behind with large tor- 

 toise-shell combs, fancifully carved. Their dresses are very short- waisted, 

 which gives them a more awkward appearance than they really deserve. 

 The men wear trousers, and a shirt with the tail outside, which looks 

 cool. Neither sex walk out except to church, when they dress in deep 

 black cloth and silks, with gold ornaments and diamonds in profusion, 

 brought from the head-waters of the Tapajos — or to the river to bathe, 

 when they leave almost all wearing apparel at home. 



The houses are of one-story and long ; there are no doors hinged be- 

 tween the rooms, only those opening to the street. Curtains are hung 

 from the upper part of the doorways to within a few inches of the brick 

 floor. One day a fresh breeze blew into the windows, and the draft 

 through the doors raised up all the curtains, when we discovered the 

 family seated on a rug, spread on the floor, sewing. The girls were 

 pretty, with large deep black eyes and hair ; they quickly pulled their 

 little bare feet under their dresses ; and laughed heartily at the sudden 

 surprise. Their hair was all down ; hooks and eyes not fastened. The 

 lady of the house was%ery kind on her side of the curtain, handed 

 Quinine and Port wine on our side to the Capitan, who declared he could 

 cure the fever in a short time. He insisted upon my joining him every 

 night at ten in a hot supper; at the same hour in the morning at break- 

 fast, and disapproved of sleeping — which was all we wanted, except to 

 get out of the country as soon as possible. Our bread was made of 

 Richmond flour, which is said to keep better in this climate than more 

 northern flour from the United States. Whether this is owing to the 

 mode of grinding the grain, or a difference in the character of the wheat 

 itself, is to be tested. Turtle and chicken were the principal meats, with 

 coffee and Portuguese red wine. The tobacco, which is produced on the 

 banks of the Madeira, is said to be superior in quality to any in Brazil. 

 It is made up in rolls, seven feet long and three inches in diameter, 

 carefully wrapped up in a strip of rattan closely wound round it. Eaeh 

 staff contains two pounds ; bundles of them are exported, with caeao, 

 Brazil nuts, coffee, and sarsaparilla, to the Atlantic coast. 



The trade of Borba is insignificant. According to Capitan Diogo's 

 account, there are not more than two thousand people, Indians and all, 



