178 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



slaves arrive at Rio de Janeiro, they are quartered 

 in houses hired for the purpose in Vallongo-street, 

 Bear the sea. There may be seen children from 

 six years of age upwards, and adults of both sexes, 

 of all ages. They lie about half-naked, exposed to 

 the sun in the court-yard, oi' out of the houses ; or 

 are distributed in several rooms, the two sexes 

 being kept separate. A mulatto or old negro who 

 has acquired experience in long service, has the 

 superintendence of the food and other necessaries 

 for the new comers. The chief article of subsist- 

 ence is mandiocca, or maize flour (^Fubd), boiled 

 in water (mingau) ; and, more rarely, salt meat from 

 Rio Grande do Sul. The preparation of this sim- 

 ple food, which they eat out of hollow gourds, or 

 dishes made of the calabash (Crescentia Ci^ete^ L.), 

 is left, as much as possible to themselves. Negroes 

 and negresses who conduct themselves well, are 

 rewarded with snuff or tobacco. They pass the 

 night on straw mats with blankets to cover them. 

 A great number of these slaves belong to the 

 sovereign, and are brought as tribute from the 

 African colonies. Whoever wants to buy slaves 

 repairs to the Vallongo to make his choice, where 

 every inspector draws up the slaves quite naked, 

 for his examination. The purchaser endeavours 

 to convince himself of the bodily strength and 

 health of the negroes, partly by feeling their bodies, 

 and partly by causing them to execute rapid mo- 

 tions, particularly striking out the arm with the 



