roUTUGUESE. — GLADIATORS. 
20^ 
Inhabitants of Portugal. 
The Portuguese are represented as inferior to the Spaniards, both 
in person and genius; as extremely treacherous, and crafty in their 
dealings ; much given to avarice and usury ; and vindictive, inali- 
cions, and cruel. The meaner sort are said to be addicted to thiev- 
ing ; yet they have shewn themselves on many occasions a brave 
and warlike people. They are justly famed for their skill in naviga- 
tion ; and for their mdlliy discoveries both in the East and West 
Indies. The women are not so prolific as in colder climes ; but they 
are very beautiful whilst young, though their complexion is some- 
what upon the olive. Their eyes are very black and sparkling, and 
retain their brilliancy after all their other charms are gone. The 
ladies spoil and disfigure their skins and complexions with paints 
and washes ; but, though lively and witty, they have a nice sense of 
female honour. Both men and women make great use of spectacles ; 
not so much to aid their sight, as to give them the appearance of 
wisdom and gravity. Their dress, like that of the Spaniards, never 
used to vary, especially among the men ; but of late years, both 
sexes have given much into the French modes. 
Gladiators. 
These were persons who fought for the amusement of the public 
in the arenas of amphitheatres in the city of Rome, and of other places 
under the dominion of the Romans. The term is derived from their 
use of the gladius, or sword ; and the origin of this horrid custom 
is said to have been the practice of sacrificing captives to the manes 
of chiefs killed in battle. It seems, however, more probable that it 
arose from the funeral games of antiquity, when the friends of the 
deceased fought in honour of his memory ; an instance of which 
occurs in the twenty-third book of the Iliad, at the burning of the 
body of Patroclus : Achilles having ordained every solemn rite usual 
upon those occasions, Homer adds, 
“ The prizes next are order’d to the field. 
For the bold champions who the caestus wield.” 
The leather which composed the caestus being loaded with lead, 
enabled the combatants to give each other mortal blows, though the 
hands only were used. Epeus, of gigantic stature, challenged the 
whole of the Grecian chiefs, who were terrified at his bulk, and 
Euryoliis alone accepted his defiance. 
Him great Tydides urges to contend. 
Warm with the hopes of conquest for his friend ; 
Officious with the cincture girds him round, 
And to his wnist the gloves of death are bound.” 
The captives slain on this occasion were not commanded to fight; 
They had been led to the pile, and died with the sheep, oxen, coursers. 
