188 
TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. 
\July\ 
of Portugal, though he had signed the constitution of 
the Empire, and was in heart a true Brazilian, became 
an object of dislike and suspicion to many of the more 
violent of the revolutionists. A tribe of Indians who 
resided near him, and to whom he had shown constant 
kindness, were incited to burn down his house and de- 
stroy his property. This they did effectually, rooting- 
up his fruit-trees, burning his crops, killing his cattle 
and his servants, and his wife and family only escaped 
from their murderous arrows by timely flight to the 
forest. During the long years of anarchy and confusion 
which followed, he was appointed a magistrate in Barra, 
and was unable to look after his estate. His wife died, 
his children married, and he of course felt then little 
interest in restoring things to their former state. 
He is a remarkably intelligent man, fond of reading, 
but without books, and with a most tenacious memory. 
He has taught himself French, which he now reads with 
ease, and through it he has got much information, though 
of course rather tinged with French prejudice. He has 
several huge quarto volumes of Ecclesiastical History, 
and is quite learned in all the details of the Councils, 
and in the history of the Reformation. He can tell 
you, from an old work on geography, without maps, the 
length and breadth of every country in Europe, and the 
main particulars respecting it. lie is about seventy 
years of age, thirsting for information, and has never 
seen a map ! Think of this, ye who roll in intellectual 
luxury. In this land of mechanics’ institutions and 
cheap literature few have an idea of the real pursuit of 
knowledge under difficulties, — of the longing thirst for 
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