NOTICES OF BRAZIL. 



63 



selves amongst the people. In a great measure, however, these 

 evils have disappeared, owing to the establishment of a more 

 efficient police, and the abolition of the importation of slaves 

 from Africa. The climate is eternal spring, summer, and au- 

 tumn blended together, for the fruit trees are budding and 

 yielding their fruits at the same time ; and while one tree is 

 just putting forth its modest blossoms, another, only a few feet 

 from it, is bending under the weight of its produce. Seeds 

 thrown into the ground, spring into a plant, and yield a crop, 

 with but little care. 



The other day I passed by the ^^Cargalada" or prison. From 

 it proceeded a most offensive smell, arising most probably from 

 the crowding together so many persons, and neglecting to re- 

 move the filth that must be continually accumulating. At the 

 grated windows appeared a number of the prisoners, calling 

 out to the passers by to give them alms, or to purchase the 

 horn combs, and cups and toys which they held up in their 

 hands. In the street, three or four prisoners were chained by 

 the neck to the wall, begging ; they were '^pedindo justiga'' 

 — asking justice. One of them was a mulatto, who informed 

 me, that an opportunity was thus afforded to those who were 

 without money, to obtain means to pay for their trial, and fee 

 their lawyers. He was charged with an assault, and had been 

 put in the street with others to beg, as the prison does not 

 afford rations before trial.* In the second story were several 

 well dressed men, seated in the verandas, smoking. They were 

 confined for debt. A little beyond the prison, I questioned a 

 Portuguese, who was standing at his door, and, as is usually 

 the case, he readily gave me what information I asked. He 

 told me that the prison contained at this time six hundred and 

 twenty-seven persons. 



I am happy to state, that I sought in vain for the slave mar- 

 ket which I visited in 1826. By the common consent of the 

 Christian world, the traffic in slaves has ceased ; yet I am told 



• " On doit ajouter que le gouvernment ne se charge point de la depense 

 des prisonniers, et qu'il laisse k la piti^ des habitants le soin de les nourier." 



Dennis. — Histoire du BrM. 



