122 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



reached the bottom of the stairs, he claps his hands as a signal to attract 

 attention, and utters a sort of sibilant sound, between his teeth and the 

 end of his tongue, as though he pronounced the syllables, chee eu. The 

 servant, who attends the call, roughly inquires in a nasal tone, who 

 is it ? and being told, retires to inform the master of the house, what 

 are the wishes of the visitor. If he be a friend, or one so well known 

 as to be received without ceremony, the master quickly comes to him, 

 and ushers him into the Sala, making loud protestations of the pleasure 

 given him by the visit, mixing his complimentary speeches with a great 

 number of bows. Before business is entered upon, if that be the object, 

 repeated apologies are offered for the free mode, in which the visitor is 

 received. And, indeed, there is often no little occasion for such apolo- 

 gies, for the gentleman very generally makes his appearance with a beard 

 of many days growth, with his black hair in the roughest state, though 

 besmeared with grease, and with no clothing over his cotton shirt. *This 

 garment is, indeed, well made, and ornamented with needle-work, 

 especially about the bosom. But then it is commonly worn in the house 

 so as to expose the breast, and the sleeves are tucked up to the elbows. 

 Or if, by chance, it be secured at the neck and w^rists by its globular 

 gold buttons, the flaps appear on the outside, hanging half way down 

 the thighs, over a waistband, which secures round the loins a short pair 

 of trowsers ; while the legs are quite bare, and the feet covered with 

 tamancas. All this is not very delicate ; more especially as the skins of 

 the Brazilians abound with hatr, and are much sun-burnt about the 

 breast and legs. 



Should the call be a ceremonious one, a servant is sent to conduct 

 the visitor to the Sala, from which, as he enters, he often sees the persons 

 who were in the room, escaping at the other door. Here he waits alone, 

 it may be, half an hour, when the gentleman appears in a sort of half 

 dress. They both bow profoundly, at a distance ; after a sufficiency of 

 skill in this science has been displayed, and thus time gained to ascertain 

 each other's rank and pretensions, they approach ; if unequal, with 

 corresponding dignity and respect ; if supposed to be nearly equals, with 



