Chap. XXXI. 
KINDNESS OF PORTUGUESE. 
653 
Nunes, to treat me as they would himself. From every one of 
these gentlemen I am happy to acknowledge that I received most 
disinterested kindness, and I ought to speak well for ever of 
Portuguese hospitahty. I have noted each little act of civility 
received, because somehow or other we have come to hold the 
Portuguese character in rather a low estimation. This may have 
arisen partly from the pertinacity with which some of them have 
pursued the slave-trade, and partly from the contrast which they 
now offer to their illustrious ancestors—the foremost navigators 
of the world. If my specification of their kindnesses will tend to 
engender a more respectful feeling to the nation, I shall consider 
myseff well rewarded. We had three large canoes in the com¬ 
pany which had lately come up with goods from Senna. They 
are made very large and strong, much larger than any we ever 
saw in the interior, and might strike with great force against a 
rock and not be broken. The men sit at the stern when paddling, 
and there is usually a little shed i^nade over a part of the canoe to 
shade the passengers from the sun. The boat in which I went 
was furnished mth such a covering, so I sat (juite comfortably, 
