548 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



thought to be necessary. Hence all, who pretended to the smallest 

 degree of fashion, and even of respectability, laid aside, not only the 

 ancient Redes, but the more modern Cadeiras, in which they had for- 

 merly been carried about the streets, and substituted in their stead Wheel- 

 Carriages and Livery Servants. Every thing, which could administer to 

 ease and to show, was thought desirable. 



This had now become the moving principle among Brazilians, 

 and it was far less easy than formerly for a person to acquire general 

 notice by his undoubted wealth and influence, than by the equipage 

 which he maintained, and the figure he made. Hence artizans of 

 every description were encouraged to settle, and were fully employed ; 

 white servants were more generally seen, and slaves for domestic 

 occupations, though less numerous, were more carefully selected, 

 furnished with better clothing and food, looked more cleanly and 

 healthy, and appeared more cheerful and happy. Hence also mules and 

 horses were more handsome, and kept in better order, for none but 

 good ones could attract attention. All tended to create a great air 

 of bustle and importance, to banish, in some measure, the formality 

 which had prevailed until then in the manners of the City, and to 

 render it a showy and intrusive place. 



It is not wonderful, amidst the general elevation of spirits, and the 

 growing confidence which every one felt in himself, if bad characters 

 appeared, nor if wicked, untrained, and uneducated men forgot them- 

 selves, and rendered an active Police more than ever necessary. This 

 body of Military had been greatly strengthened in numbers, and much 

 more so in discipline ; its range also, was extended through the sur- 

 rounding country. The powers entrusted to this body were, perhaps, 

 too great for the habits and the mental culture of men who had been 

 selected to it, rather from their personal knowledge of bad characters, 

 than their own claim to a good one. They soon became corrupt, abused 

 their authority, and not only individually engaged in practices incon- 

 sistent with their office, but adopted a general system of violence and 

 extortion. 



The extent of this evil might have been displayed by the mention 



