NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



471 



in the greatest splendour do not spend thrice that sum ; few even double 

 it. The people live, indeed, chiefly upon beef, bacon, pulse, and other 

 vegetables. They have excellent whegten bread, but prefer the flour of 

 the mandioca root, and preparations from Indian corn. While remaining 

 in the house a very slight clothing is all that is necessary or desirable ; 

 when riding, visiting, or wishing to appear in form, a long coarse woollen 

 coat, generally blue or brown, is put on, and at night a covering of still 

 coarser woollen is used. 



The slight concerns of business and domestic management occupy 

 most families during the morning. At noon dinner is usually taken, and 

 quickly afterwards the heat renders the siesta pleasant until about four 

 o'clock, when gentlemen dress and pay visits of ceremony. In the 

 evening both sexes meet at some friendly house, and join in the sprightly 

 dance, or in games of cards which require little exercise either of the 

 judgment or memory. During my visit there was a succession of parties 

 of this kind ; some of them were protracted to a late hour, and all had 

 for their object less of show and parade than of real enjoyment. A 

 desire of happiness, social and reasonable, appeared to me the main 

 spring which actuated this agreeable town, and never did any society, 

 with which I have been familiar, so fully or so easily attain its object. 

 The good temper and conciliatory manners of the Governor were con- 

 sidered, and perhaps truly, as the circumstance which mainly contributed 

 to this enviable state of things. 



Though there is a great want of education among the people of St. 

 John, they possess their full share of good sense, and many of them 

 have discernment enough to be aware of their deficiencies, and candour 

 enough to lament them. The want of books, masters, and intercourse, 

 is their general misfortune, and very slowly, I fear, will it be removed. 

 Among the superior classes manners, although not polished, are easy 

 and agreeable ; the people possess good tempers and independent 

 spirits, display less intrigue and more sincerity than in this part of the 

 world are usually found ; nevertheless it must be acknowledged that 

 their wish to please sometimes inclines them to flattery : they are lively, 



