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STAY AT VILLA DE ST. SALVADOR, 



slave whose arm became entangled in the works of a sugar-mill, 

 which, when the negro in his anguish invoked a saint, immediately 

 stood still. Such accidents befal the negroes but too often, because 

 those people are very careless and imprudent. The convent is not 

 large, but it has a tolerable number of light cheerful apartments, and 

 a low tower. The trouble of ascending its half-dilapidated stairs 

 was rewarded by the agreeable prospect of the beautiful and romantic 

 valley. 



It would have been very easy for Father Joao to have given us, the 

 preceding day, convenient quarters in the roomy monastery, but his 

 incivility went so far, that he even refused to let us have some pro- 

 visions. When he learned in the morning the favourable terms in 

 which our passports were drawn up, he thought it advisable to be 

 rather more polite, and oifered us a sheep out of his flock, which we 

 purchased for breakfast. After mass he addressed us, and we con- 

 cluded a peace with him, which put an end to all animosities. The 

 inhabitants of St. Fidelis, had all heard the story of our arrival, and 

 loudly expressed their disapprobation of the behaviour of their 

 priest. 



Our most important business now was to make ourselves ac- 

 quainted with the savage Puris in their forests : we accordingly re- 

 paired to the other bank of the Paraiba, where we met with a very 

 friendly reception in the fazenda of a quarter-master. Our host 

 even sent his brother into the wood to the Puris, to inform them that 

 some strangers were arrived, and wished to speak to them. This 

 invitation to the savages was a great sacrifice which he had the polite- 

 ness to make in order to oblige us ; for these people not only bring 

 him no advantage, but do him considerable injury. When they are 

 kindly treated they fix themselves near the plantations, but then they 

 consume the produce of them, as if they were cultivated for their 

 benefit, and even frequently rob the negroes of their shirts and 



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