134 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



them, all possible brevity may seem, on some accounts, to be desirable ; 

 but no one can comprehend the extent of depravity, among this people, 

 without a short detail. The Cities, for which Abraham interceded, 

 Cyprus, Carthage, Crete, and Sparta, had joined, at the period when 

 my acquaintance with the country began, to form the social order of 

 Rio de Janeiro. The sacred precincts of truth, private property, and 

 domestic virtue, were violated in the most licentious way. Few were to 

 be believed on their most solemn asseveration ; fewer still to be trusted, 

 even after some trial of their fidelity. Imposition and pilfering, of every 

 description, where they could be attempted with the hope of safety, were 

 so common as to excite only transient and inoperative feelings of resent- 

 ment. Occasional thefts were bold and daring ; but, in general, though 

 accomplished with adroitness, so as seldom to fail of their object, they 

 were skulking and dastardly. Assassination sometimes followed in their 

 train ; and sometimes was coolly practised for purposes of less moment 

 than to make sure a booty, or prevent a discovery. The life of an 

 undistinguished individual was not worth two dollars ; for a smaller sum, 

 any Coward could hire a Bravo to take it away. When a body dropped 

 in the street, though in broad day -light, the murderer walked on, and 

 the people beheld him as if he had done nothing amiss, and even made 

 way for his escape. Indeed, their own safety required such forbearance, 

 for the Brazilians then wore, almost universally, wide wrapping cloaks, 

 under which they not only concealed the produce of their thievish 

 industry, but also carried their never-faihng companion, a knife. This, 

 when they apprehended a pursuit, was openly displayed, firmly grasped, 

 and held ready to strike the first person, who should dare to interrupt 

 their progress. 



The British, finding that no one was safe, in his property or person, 

 who had not tlie resolution to defend himself, not only employed all 

 their watchfulness to baffle the attempts of those around them, but 

 placed arms within reach, when they lay down on their beds, and carried 

 them so as not to be observed, when they went abroad. It was not to 

 be expected that foreigners should enjoy a measure of the public care. 



