KOTES ON BRAZIL. 



My old friends at Varge requested that I would convey a paper for 

 them to Ro9inha ; it contained a summons to a Clergyman to perform 

 the last Rites of the Catholic Religion to a dying negro boy. However 

 little I believe in the power of a Priest to forgive sins, I had no right 

 to trifle with the prejudices of any one, especially those of a family from 

 which I had received civilities, or to decline upon such grounds, the 

 faithful delivery of an useless billet. 



At Ro^inha, I met with one of those impetuous characters, who 

 continually thwart their own purposes, are dissatisfied themselves, and 

 render every one miserable who is dependent upon them. He had lost 

 seven mules, and left behind him two sick slaves, in the short distance 

 between the Capital and this place ; and as he seemed determined to oppose 

 nothing but violence to such casualties, would probably lose and leave 

 others of his train, ere he reached his home, on the Northern frontier 

 of the province. He had with him a son, who promised fairly, in due 

 time, " to out-herod even Herod." Few hours, in a life of some variety, 

 have been passed with more extreme disgust than this. 



In proceeding Northward, I came to Ro^inha by a new road, and 

 therefore now took the old one, towards the Parahybuna. The change 

 involved in it some additional labour, but it was amply recompensed by 

 new and charming views of the country. 



My trunks were again opened on the beach, and searched by the 

 Officers of the Register ; but to no purpose. It is true, that, in the 

 course of the journey, G old-Dust and Precious-Stones had been repeat- 

 edly offered to me for sale; sometimes with the wish of transacting 

 business in good faith, and sometimes, I suspected, as traps for the 

 unwary. But smuggling bargains were not my object. 



Crossing the river, we slept at a small Venda, having advanced 

 twenty-eight miles in the course of the day. There, occurred one of the 

 little circumstances, which often display the state of the country more 

 strongly than greater events. On this South side of the river, no grass was 

 to be obtained, and the person with whom we agreed to furnish us with 

 this necessary article, had to go two miles beyond the Northern bank to cut 



