330 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



what are generally accounted comforts, not worth the trouble of procur- 

 ing. They are violent in their passions, little restrained either by law or 

 custom, and full of those suspicions, which usually attend want of 

 principle and licentious conduct. 



From St. Salvador to the mouth of the river is about thirty miles 

 by water, by land only fifteen. Its narrow, intricate channel, presents 

 a hope of access to no other vessels but the strong flat ones of the country ; 

 and its bar is so destitute of water, that even these are sometimes obliged 

 to wait a month before they can venture to pass it. The best landmark 

 is the Fradre, a remarkably high, rough, naked mountain. The whole 

 adjacent territory is said to have been divided between the Jesuits, the 

 Benedictines, and the Bishop of Rio de Janeiro. 



An observation made throughout the whole of this journey, bears 

 another testimony to the good and useful conduct of the Jesuits in 

 Brazil. When the aboriginal inhabitants were driven by the oppressive 

 measures of Selema, the Portuguese Governor of Rio, about the year 

 1580, to desert their lands, and retire beyond the mountains, this 

 religious body took possession of the territory South of the Parah^ba, 

 on behalf of the Indians. They obtained for those who should return, 

 some special privileges ; one of the most important was a right to 

 choose their own village Magistrates, who were to possess equal autho- 

 rity, and act jointly, with those appointed by the Vicereys. A Con-, 

 servatorial Court was established, to watch over the interests of the 

 people, and their lands were apportioned to those who wished to occupy 

 them, but never sold ; the fixed rent was forty reis a bra^o en testado, 

 or about two-pence for every six feet in front. The rent was appro- 

 priated to the use of the Indians, and properly administered, I believe, 

 as long as the Order of Jesuits existed. Forms then established, 

 though gradually falling into disuse, are not yet quite obsolete. All 

 estates now sold, which once made a part of this district, must be 

 furnished with what is called an Indian Title, the sale must be rati- 

 fied by the Conservatorial Court, and the lands remain charged with 

 a sort of quit rent. One set of these titles, which I have seen, goes 



