402 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



the area of packages, while his attendants arranged themselves behind it. 

 He was a tall athletic man, about seventy years of age, his limbs well 

 proportioned, and his features large and coarse, he wore a wig similar 

 to a brown George, but much the worse for service ; his linen was 

 exceedingly good and well made, he had on a cotton jacket and waist- 

 coat, nankeen small-clothes, and Brazilian boots buckled below the 

 knee. Soon afterwards my new friend, who had furnished the dinner, 

 came forward ; I suspected that his prime object was cash and not com- 

 pliment, and therefore set him at ease on that point, although his demand 

 was somewhat exorbitant ; having made his proper bow to the Governor, 

 and, being invited to seat himself, he seemed quite happy ; yet, after 

 a little time, made another charge, saying that his slave, in bringing 

 the dinner from his house to the Shed, had broken a plate, which he 

 requested me to pay for. It seemed unreasonable, however, that I 

 should be liable for the faults of a person over whom I had no controul, 

 and I resisted the claim, appealing to my first visitor as to the justice of 

 the case : it was amicably settled, and he was prevented from making 

 other exactions ; nevertheless as the evening proceeded he so far forgot 

 himself, or rather fell again so much into his natural character, as to 

 hint that a silver spoon had not been sent home ; every body, however, 

 seemed to understand his character, and his insinuations were scouted. 

 It was afterwards proved, by the testimony of his slave, whom I 

 insisted upon permission to question publicly, that the master had himself 

 counted and locked every one of them up. The Governor was a 

 very blunt and apparently honest man, but I greatly question whether 

 I should have got over those charges so easily, had he not partaken 

 liberally of my snuff, wine, and segars, for in Brazil strangers are fair 

 game, neighbours must support each other, and, in such cases, the arm 

 of power is not always ready at the call of justice. 



This extortionate rascal was soon disposed of, but his appearance and 

 character deserve some further notice. He was a little man, dressed in 

 cotton stockings and tamancas, nankeen breeches, and knee buckles of 

 mock brilliants, a waistcoat which had once been white, but now had 

 lost, by washing and wear, both its colour and texture ; the coat had 



