MANAOS AND ITS NEIGHBORHOOD. 



293 



fact, so honorable to Brazil, that the free negro has full 

 access to all the privileges of any free citizen, rather tends 

 to increase than diminish the number.* 



Becemher ^d. — Yesterday was the Emperor's birthday, 

 always kept as a holiday throughout Brazil, and this year 

 with more enthusiasm than usual, because he has just 

 returned from the army, and has made himself doubly 

 dear to his people, not only by the success which attend- 

 ed his presence there, but by his humanity toward the 

 soldiers. We had our illuminations, bouquets, music, &c., 

 as well as the rest of the world ; but as Manaos is not 

 overflowing with wealth, the candles were rather few, 

 and there were long lapses of darkness alternating with 

 the occasional brilliancy. We went out in the evening 

 to make a few calls, and listen to the music in the open 

 ground dignified by the name of the public square. Here 

 all the surrounding buildings were brightly illuminated ; 

 there was a very pretty tent in the centre, where the band 

 of Indian children from the Casa dos Educandos was play- 

 ing ; preparations were making for the ascension of a 



* Let any one who doubts the evil of this mixture of races, and is inclined, 

 from a mistaken philanthropy, to break down all barriers between them, come 

 to Brazil. He cannot deny the deterioration consequent upon an amalgama- 

 tion of races, more widespread here than in any other country in the world, 

 and which is rapidly effacing the best qualities of the white man, the negro, and 

 the Indian, leaving a mongrel nondescript type, deficient in physical and mental 

 energy. At a time when the new social status of the negro is a subject of vital 

 importance in our statesmanship, we should profit by the experience of a coun- 

 try where, though slavery exists, there is far more liberality toward the free 

 negro than he has ever enjoyed in the United States. Let us learn r,he double 

 lesson : open all the advantages of education to the negro, and give him 

 every chance of success which culture gives to the man who knows how to 

 use it ; but respect the laws of nature, and let all our dealings with the black 

 man tend to preserve, as far as possible, the distinctness of his national charac- 

 teristics, and the integrity of our own. — L. A. 



