LIFE AT MANAOS. 



193 



getlier ; the latter always so jolly and careless, the former 

 shy, serious, almost sombre. They looked, however, very 

 intelligent, and we were told that those of pure Indian 

 descent were more so than the half-breeds. The school 

 is supported by the province, but the fund is small, and 

 the number of pupils is very limited. Our pleasure in 

 this school was somewhat marred by hearing that, though 

 it purports to be an orphan asylum, children who have 

 parents loath to part with them are sometimes taken by 

 force from the wild Indian tribes to be educated here. 

 The appearance of a dark cell, barred up like the cell 

 of a wild animal, which was used as a prison for refrac- 

 tory scholars, rather confirmed this impression. Whenever 

 I have made inquiries about these reports, I have been 

 answered, that, if such cases occur, it is only where chil- 

 dren are taken from an utterly savage and degraded con- 

 dition, and that it is better they should be civilized by 

 main force than not civilized at all. It may be doubted, 

 however, whether any providence but the providence of 

 God is so wise and so loving that it may safely exercise a 

 compulsory charity. Speaking of the education of the 

 Indians reminds me that we have been fortunate enough 

 to meet a French padre here who has furnished Mr. Agassiz 

 with a package of simple elementary Portuguese books, 

 which he has already sent to our literary Indian friend, 

 Jos6 Maia. This kind priest offers also to take the boy, 

 for whom Maia was so anxious to secure an education, 

 into the seminary of which he is director, and where he 

 receives charity scholars. 



September '12th. — On Sunday we left Manaos in the steam- 

 er for Tabatinga, and are again on our way up the river. 

 I insert here a letter which gives a sort of resume of the 



9 M 



