NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



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commodiously, the same purpose as do the Palanquins of the East. 

 They consist of an arm-chair, with a high back, to which is attached a 

 long foot-board and a canopy. Around the latter are suspended curtains 

 of blue cloth, edged with some gaudy colour, and kept closed, as the 

 machine passes along the streets, in order to conceal the haughty or the 

 constrained Donna from public view. The whole is attached to a long 

 pole, passing over the lady's head, and is suspended between two black 

 men, who support it on their shoulders. Such were the only Carriages 

 used formerly in Rio, by people of fashion, and, like the modern 

 Chaise, to which they have lately given place, they were sometimes very 

 splendid, being decorated in such a manner as might best display the 

 taste, the wealth, and the rank of the owner. On the foot-board, which 

 is large enough for the purpose, is often seated a little Senhora, forming 

 the same idle habits as her mother has done, and laying a foundation for 

 future unwieldiness of a similar kind. 



The exercise which these ladies take is almost wholly confined 

 to the house; little exertion is necessary, and that little opposed 

 by inclination ; they are surrounded by slaves, and it is their privi- 

 lege to be waited upon. I have seen this carried to an extent 

 which would be ridiculous, were it not something worse ; and am 

 sorry to add, that such sights are not unusual. A lady was seated 

 on a mat, (one morning when I called upon her,) surrounded by a 

 number of slaves, with needle- work in their hands ; a drinking vessel, 

 full of water, being placed so as that she could conveniently reach it* 

 She interrupted the conversation by suddenly calling aloud for another 

 slave to come from a different part of the house. When the negress 

 entered the room, the lady said to her, " give me that drinking-vessel." 

 She did so, her mistress drank and returned it ; the slave replaced it in 

 its former situation, and retired without seeming to feel that the command 

 was an extraordinary one, or that she had performed ought which she 

 had not done a thousand times before. Ah ! ladies, thought I, what 

 wonder that you become corpulent, and ruin your constitution ; these are 

 the natural effects of inanity. 



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