NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



119 



British delicacy, by the noise, the heat, and the strong smell, of the 

 animals confined below ; but these things appeared to produce no 

 unpleasant effect on Brazilian nerves. Where the lower story of a 

 house is occupied, the front by a shop, and the hinder part by a large 

 room, serving as a warehouse or repository for all sorts of lumber; 

 the upper apartments generally form the abode of other individuals or 

 families. 



The Shopkeeper and his Servants eat, drink, and sleep in the miser- 

 ably close and damp rooms below. The master sometimes has a bed, the 

 counter or the floor generally forms that of his dependants and slaves. 

 The shop doors are closed, or nearly so, at noon ; a cloth is spread upon 

 the counter, which then serves as a dinner table. The meal, sent in 

 ready drest, is hastily taken, and is the only regular one allowed during 

 the day. 



Persons connected with the higher departments of trade, and others 

 of sufficient rank and means, occupying the upper stories, have the 

 advantage of a separate entrance from the street, which by a long passage 

 conducts to a stair-case, always placed at right angles to the line of the 

 passage, and having at the top a gate to prevent any one from entering 

 unexpectedly. On the one hand, a door conducts into the front room, 

 called the Sala, or drawing room, which generally fills the whole breadth 

 of the house, and is nearly square. Before it is the inclosed balcony, 

 which is entered from the room by three doors, answering the purpose of 

 windows, and admitting light and air. These doors are generally open 

 day and night, a slight fastening to the balcony being thought a sufficient 

 security against thieves and intruders. On the side of the room opposite 

 to the front is a pair of folding doors, in which is sometimes seen the 

 only window glass, which the house contains ; these are thrown open at 

 night, and lead to an alcove or recess, forming the principal bed room. 

 On each side of this recess there is a paneled door, opening into passages, 

 which lead to other smaller and closer alcoves, and terminate in an 

 open Varanda, surrounding an area, from which the back part of the 

 house, and the warehouse are enlightened. Beyond the area is the 

 kitchen. 



