TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



61 



perhaps excessive perfection of single inferior 

 organs. It is the result of this beautifully consti- 

 tuted and more perfect unity of the human powers, 

 that must be considered as true humanity, which 

 is inseparable from the idea of freedom. Freedom, 

 founded on a lively moral consciousness, and deve- 

 loped by the glories of religion and genuine science, 

 has impressed upon the European the stamp of 

 elevation and dignity, which have hitherto almost 

 unconsciously conducted him victorious through 

 all parts of the globe ; which have protected 

 him among the rude children of nature, even 

 where unlicensed presumption has succeeded to 

 the first simplicity, and everywhere defend him 

 with the shield of veneration and awe. We our- 

 selves had opportunities, during a longer residence 

 among the Indians, of proving the superioiity 

 which the nature of the whites exercises over 

 them. This race, as well as the Ethiopic, and 

 their mixed descendants, manifest a secret awe of 

 a white man, so that a look from him, nay his bare 

 appearance, terrifies them ; and one white, in si- 

 lence, commands hundreds of them. This is still 

 more the case with the blacks, who, though prompt 

 to act, have no real solid courage, and are there- 

 fore, as it were, mentally subdued and constrained 

 by the innate superiority, and the firm resolution, 

 of the white man. 



After we had explored the immediate envi- 

 rons of Ypanema, we extended our excursions 

 to more distant parts. It appeared to us to be 



