NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



299 



cannot escape them, cultivate in their warriors not only a contempt of sucli 

 molestations, but a general spirit of stern endurance, by placing them in 

 a nest of these insects. In this country these insects present no lesson of 

 useful labour ; they are restless and active, but as it seems to me, to no 

 purpose. I have observed them carrying a heap of sand through a hole 

 in a wall, dropping it on the opposite side, and when the whole is 

 cleared away, carrying it back again with the same air of important 

 occupation. — In the list of country torments must also be placed many 

 various kinds of snakes, mosquitoes, flies, wasps, fleas, and carapatos; 

 whose annoyance is unceasing. 



1 had here an opportunity of observing the indecent manner in 

 which the last offices of religion are sometimes administered by country 

 Priests. Two negroes being extremely ill, a Clergyman was sent for, 

 who on his arrival found one of them gone beyond the reach of his art^ 

 if not beyond his influence, and the other, having crawled off" his bed, 

 was lying on the floor of the cabin. As we entered the Priest was jesting 

 and laughing in the most volatile form, then filled both his hands with 

 water and dropped it on the poor .creature's head, pronouncing' the form 

 of baptism. The dying man, probably experienced some little relief 

 from the effiision, for he exclaimed, — " Good, very good." Oh," said 

 the Priest, it is very good, is it ? then there is more for you ;" dashing 

 upon him what remained in the basin. Without delay he resumed his 

 jokes, and in the midst of them the man expired. No one can have 

 less faith in the efficacy of baptism or extreme unction, administered at 

 the last gasp of life ; but I cannot endure the sight of a Minister of 

 religion, whether Papal or Protestant, trifling with the rites which 

 he declares to be of prime importance, and trust that conduct so base 

 and abandoned will never fail to excite my strongest reprobation. Among 

 my countrymen, I cannot in this point, be singular^ 



Familiar visits in the country are frequent, noisy, and sometimes 



protracted to a late hour; yet among the neighbours* there exists a great 



deal of jealousy and rancour, and their conversation i§ often as full of 



pretence as can well be conceived. This is not wanting in more ceremo- 



P p 2 



I 



