VOYAGE UP THE COAST TO PARA. 



135 



the fruit. The trunk is perfectly smooth, the fruit growing 

 in a heavy cluster of berries, just below the crown of leaves 

 on its summit. The negro fastens a cord or a strip of palm- 

 leaf around his insteps, thus binding his feet together that 

 they may not slide apart on the smooth stem, and by means 

 of this kind of stirrup he contrives to cling to the slippery 

 trunk and scramble up. 



We were much interested in seeing here an admirably 

 well conducted institution for the education of poor or- 

 phans. Its chief aim is to educate them, not as scholars, 

 though they receive elementary instruction in reading, 

 writing, and ciphering, but to teach them a variety of 

 occupations by which they can earn an honest livelihood. 

 They are trained in several trades, are taught to play on 

 a number of instruments, and there is also a school of 

 design connected with the establishment. A faultless or- 

 der and scrupulous neatness prevailed through the whole 

 building, which was not the result of an exceptional prep- 

 aration, since our visit was wholly unexpected. This sur- 

 prised us the more, because, notwithstanding their fond- 

 ness for bathing, order and neatness in their houses are 

 not a virtue among the Brazilians. This may be owing to 

 slave labor, — rarely anything better than eye-service. The 

 large dormitories looked fresh and airy, with the hammocks 

 rolled up and laid on a shelf, each one above the peg to 

 which it belonged ; the shoes were hung on nails along 

 the walls, and the little trunks, holding the clothing of 

 each scholar, were neatly arranged beneath them. On the 

 upper story was the hospital, a large, well-ventilated room, 

 with numerous windows commanding beautiful views, and 

 a cool breeze blowing through it. Here were cots instead 

 of hammocks, but I thought the sick boys might prefer 



