80 



PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



sequences of a further interference in it. One gentleman said, " If you see a 

 " dead body, gallop off;" another, " If you perceive a dispute, from which one of 

 " the parties is likely to lose his life, fly, or you may be compelled to prove that 

 " you were not accessary to his death." I immediately deposited the property at 

 the British Consul's office, being under some apprehension, but I never heard 

 more of the matter. No doubt the body became a prey to the dogs and 

 wild birds, and the friends of this poor man will most probably never hear of 

 his fate. 



Upon being detected in the commission of a crime, the perpetrator frequently 

 flies to the altar of a contiguous church ; where I once saw a criminal remain 

 for several hours, being privileged from capture till an order was obtained from 

 the bishop for his arrest. This, like many other observances of the Roman 

 Catholics, is a practice derived from the Mosaic law. 



The circumstances attending the execution of the criminal alluded to in the 

 last note were rather singular, although common here upon such occasions. He 

 was conducted on foot for a considerable distance through the streets, accompa- 

 nied by padres, to the place of execution. There he was laid upon his, back 

 against the upper part of tlie ladder attached to the scaffold, and, on the rope 

 being fastened round his neck, he was pushed off", with a negro upon his shoul- 

 ders to accelerate his death. The head and hands were afterwards severed from, 

 the body and placed at each angle of the gallows, as represented in the plate. 



The regular military force of Rio de Janeiro, and the immediately surround- 

 ing district, may be estimated at five thousand men, consisting of two 

 regiments of infantry and one of cassadores from Portugal, some regiments of 

 Brazilian infantry and cavalry, mulattoes and blacks, including the royal 

 guard, exceedingly ill mounted and ineffective. The police of the city consists 

 of a regiment of infantry and cavalry ; this department appears to be well 

 arranged. Although the principal plan for the protection of the Brazil is the 

 militia law, to which all the inhabitants are liable, yet, in point of discipline 

 they are very deficient, but in dress and equipment they reach mediocrity. 

 None of the regular regiments are in a state of good discipline ; those from 

 Portugal are the best, but they are dissatisfied with the Brazilian service, and 

 1 was assured by one of their officers that they have relaxed very much in their 

 duty. The mining districts and the other adjoining provinces are furnished 

 with light cavalry, to which may be added the militia, who are usually called 

 out for exercise on Sundays and holidays. The force at Monte Video amounts 

 to eight thousand men, under General Le Cour, and the troops under General 



