PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



77 



dawn. Jealousy, which acquires a greater sway, from this confined state of 

 education and knowledge, obtains unbounded influence over the minds of 

 many of the Brazilians, and operates in some instances to such a degree that 

 its victims are degraded much below the savage : they do not declare their 

 resentment openly, and demand frankly that redress or explanation which a 

 man sustaining a real or imaginary injury from another has a right to require; 

 but they seek in privacy the destruction of the object who may have created in 

 their breasts sentiments of revenge, frequently resting upon a false and unjust 

 foundation, but which the inveteracy of this diabolical passion will allow them 

 neither to investigate nor to solicit what in Europe is deemed a fair and 

 honourable satisfaction. Jealousy is a highly praise-worthy feeling when it is 

 regulated with candour and justice, but allied with the vile cowardice of clari^- 

 destine assassination, perpetrated by the hands of the party themselves, or 

 through the medium of a hired agent, it is of all others the most wicked and 

 hellish that can actuate the human mind. 



That instances have occurred in the Brazil wherein both those modes have 

 been practised, for the gratification of this passion, unjustly indulged, is but 

 too true. An English gentleman, who has resided in the Brazil nearly forty years, 

 informed me of a circumstance which he witnessed in this city, previously to 

 the arrival of the royal family. A British officer, whose ship was taking in 

 refreshments here, on passing through the Palace Square to a boat waiting to 

 take him on board his vessel, suddenly received a facada by a person who drew 

 a knife from under a capote, or cloak, (which the Brazilians are in the habit of 

 wearing,) concealed for the purpose, and which terminated his existence. It 

 was said that this wretch had unjustly encouraged a feeling of jealousy against 

 the British officer in regard to his wife, or some part of his family. Many of 

 the Brazjhans carry knives, hid under the sleeve of their capotes, which they 

 throw and use with great dexterity. I was horror-struck to see at Rio the 

 samples of an importation of knives from England, manufactured expressly 

 for this purpose. In cases of quarrels amongst themselves they frequently use 

 them, and quickly fold the capote around the left arm, which serves for a sort 

 of shield. 



Religions festas, as has been before stated, are occurring weekly, and 

 amongst other fun^ons, as they are called, one annually takes place in the 

 beautiful island of Paquata, one of the fairest and most picturesque in the 

 bay. The English merchants are generally applied to for subscriptions 

 for this festival which they accord with their accustomed liberality. It is a 



