NOTES ON BRAZIL, 



193 



iection, that they would themselves want bread when their commissions 

 were forfeited. This was not an affected display of wealth in one case, 

 nor of kind-heartedness in the other. All seemed truly to regret that 

 an Englishman shotdd be so disgraced; and their disappointment can 

 hardly be conceived, when they received thanks for their good-will 

 towards our country, with an assurance that our laws did not admit of 

 a prisoner's liberation without a trial. On his entrance into Rio, however, 

 he was permitted to escape. 



A community, it is often observed, is no less exhibited in its Sports 

 than its serious modes of thinking and acting. Soon after our arrival 

 Lent was announced ; the three first days of this season are always 

 devoted to frolic, among the Brazilians. At the Intrudo, — for so these 

 days are called, — they cast hollow balls of various coloured wax, about 

 the size and shape of an orange, fill them with water, and pelt each 

 other, until the combatants are generally well wetted. It has been 

 surmised, that this was originally one of the singular modes by which the 

 Priests communicated the water of baptism to persons indisposed to 

 receive it, and thus entrapped them into the Kingdom of Heaven. 

 However this might be, another practical witticism, greatly in request at 

 the same season, could hardly have any religious origin. Flour is wrapped 

 up in cones made of paper, and in a moment, when the poor Negro is 

 off his guard, he is whitened all over. So fond are the people of these 

 and similar diversions^ that they freely say — " At the Intrudo we become 

 simpletons." 



On the first day of these sports, the British were proceeding together 

 on horseback to the house of a Spaniard, about five miles from the town, 

 and took a back way in hopes of avoiding the wetting, to which aU 

 were alike exposed. We had not, however, made much progress, when 

 we were assailed with a shower of balls, which dispersed us in every 

 direction. Being better mounted than some of my companions^ I pushed 

 forward, and looking back, saw one of our number unhorsed, and very 

 roughly handled • deserving his fate, I must confess, by suffering his 

 anger to kindle, and returning for the watery balls very improper missiles. 



B b 



