224 



A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 



(very partially) concealed by a blue rag, which I suppose 

 in some early period of the world's history must have been 

 a shirt ; this extraordinary figure is surmounted by an old 

 straw hat full of holes, bent in every direction, and tied 

 under the chin by a red string. Had he not been a tem- 

 porary substitute, we should have tried to obtain a more 

 respectable livery for him ; but to-day he gives place to an 

 Indian lad, Bruno by name, who presents a more decent 

 appearance, though he seems rather bewildered by his new 

 office. At present his idea of waiting on the table seems 

 to be to sit on the floor and look at us while we eat. How- 

 ever, we hope to break him in gradually. He looks as if 

 he had not been long redeemed from the woods, for his 

 face is deeply tattooed with black, and his lips and nose 

 are pierced with holes, reminding one of the becoming 

 vanities he has renounced in favor of civilization.* Be- 

 sides Bruno we have a girl, Alexandrina by name, who, 

 by her appearance, has a mixture of Indian and black blood 

 in her veins. She promises very well, and seems to have 

 the intelligence of the Indian with the greater pliability 

 of the negro. 



September 29th. — One of the great charms of our resi- 

 dence here is, that we have so many pleasant walks within 

 easy reach. My favorite walk in the early morning is to 

 the wood on the brow of the hill. From the summit, the 

 sunrise is lovely over the village below, the lake with its 

 many picturesque points and inlets, and the forests on the 

 opposite shores. From this spot a little path through the 

 bushes brings one at once into a thick, beautiful wood. 



* It is a very general habit among the South American Indians to pierce 

 the nose, ears, and lips with holes, in which they hang pieces of wood and 

 feathers, as ornaments. 



