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and, perpetually hankering after the precious minerals, seem to think 

 that the onlv standard for estimating the gifts of nature, is the diffi- 

 ciilty of obtaining them. 



Having passed the hamlet of St. Sebastian's, we arrived late in the 

 evening at Bordo do Campo, a village consisting of about twenty 

 houses, the best of which is that of Captain Rodrigo de Lima, who, 

 on learning our situation, kindly took us in for the night. While sup- 

 per was preparing, we had some conversation with him respecting the 

 agriculture and produce of the neighbourhood, in the course of which 

 he paid much attention to our observations, and promised next day 

 to shew us the system he pursued. At the repast, which was speed- 

 ily announced, he introduced us to his wife and daughter, and a lady 

 who was then on a visit to them. This was an unexpected act of 

 politeness, and one which had never yet been exercised towards us by 

 any master of a family in the whole course of our journey. The few 

 females we occasionally saw at any former place generally secluded 

 themselves on our arrival and during our stay ; and, when they came 

 near us by chance, they commonly ran away in as much apparent 

 alarm as if they had been accustomed to be frightened at the name 

 of an Englishman. The ladies appeared in very neat dresses of Eng- 

 lish manufacture, with a profusion of gold chains about their necks, 

 which are always worn on receiving or paying visits. Their conver- 

 sation was gay and enlivening, : they were very inquisitive respecting 

 the costume of English women, and seemed quite astonished at hear- 

 ing that they wore caps, it being never the custom among the Bra- 

 zilian females to cover their heads until advanced in years. They 

 ornament their hair with combs, frequently of gold, and very richly 

 wrought. Wine was introduced, of which the ladies could not be 

 prevailed on to partake : they gave our healths by putting the glass 

 to their lips. After supper, the table was covered with delicious 

 sweet-meats ; when, being desirous of paying the lady of the house a 

 compliment, I spoke highly of their excellence, and presumed that 

 the fruits were preserved under her immediate direction : but she as- 



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