186 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



. There was a curious practice attending the commerce of Brazil, by 

 which I have been deceived in this and other towns ; but which now 

 prevails less extensively than in years past. A genteel looking man, with 

 an air of importance, enters a Store, and after taking pains to ascertain 

 the lowest prices, if he affect to be a purchaser, or to get the highest if 

 he appear as a seller, sometimes concludes very considerable bargains. 

 But it often turns out that this showy merchant had not the least thought 

 of fulfilling his engagement, and there are no means of compelling him 

 to do so ; he has obtained his end, which is either to gratify his vanity, 

 or to obtain information of the value of goods, which he elsewhere turns 

 to account. 



If, instead of business, amusing occupation and pleasant society had 

 been our object, we should have had little reason to complain of St. 

 Pedro. Its neighbourhood afforded ample scope for riding, walking, and 

 field-sports. The people, in general, seemed to be disposed to gaiety, 

 were harmonious among themselves, and friendly to strangers. At the 

 house of the Vicar was always found within that which made us forget 

 its comfortless exterior. He was a man of some zeal, and more goodness 

 of heart ; regarded as the father, though not revered as the saint of his 

 district. Under his roof there was a constant evening lounge for the 

 Heretics as well as the Catholics, in which lively conversation was occa- 

 sionally varied by cards and dancing. Some of the inferior Clergy, 

 whom we met with, appeared to be respectable men ; but if their services 

 were really enforced by their example, they were insufficient to prevent a 

 great laxity of morals. 



The British, as is perhaps too common with them wherever they 

 meet out of their own country, sought and found their chief pleasure in 

 each other's society. There was only one established house of our country 

 in St. Pedro, and the occasional British residents were not numerous. 

 Several persons, giving themselves out to be our countrymen, passed 

 through the town, under the pretence of seeking for lands. But that 

 they were not what they pretended to be, and had other objects than 

 those which they avowed, is evident from their hiding themselves from 



