1808.] 
not astitch of clothing, and the females 
with scarcely so much as deceney in al- 
most every country requires, Some of 
these victims to avarice are perfectly co- 
vered over with a kind of leprosy 5 and 
the only assistance they receive, is to be 
driven to the shore every (morning and 
évening to bathe in the sea-water; the 
salt particlés of which give them the 
mostexcruciating pains Their food is of 
the very coarsest ‘kind, asortof bran mixed 
with warm water put ina large trough 
in the midst of them, where t they all eat 
like so many hogs, without spoons or any 
thing but their hands. Gn any kind of 
disagreement happening amongst them, 
the lash is ariedhately applied by the 
unfeeling monster their keeper. These 
who are c emiployed by good masters, have 
® part of particular ‘days to enjoy them- 
selves, which'they certainly do in a very 
high desree! After the heat of the day 
is over; the y meet on a large green in the 
vicinity of the city; when they ‘form 
theniselves into dancing-parties, which 
is their chief amusement. Their musi¢ 
consists of a sort of pipe with four holes ; 
also drums of various sizes, made of 
the trunks of trees, one end covered with 
a piece of bullock’: orgoat’s hide, the other 
solid. They have likewise sundry in- 
struments made of the cocoa-nut-shell. 
To this music they dance, distorting their 
bodies, making wry faces ‘486 giving such 
hideous yells s,asare more frightful than 
entertaining to a stranger. At night the 
parties return home with the greatest 
order, dauciug as they proceed aiong the 
streets, 
Of the military force of this settlement, 
Tcan say butlittle. WiatIlsaw of chen 
were exercised every morning in the 
square, aud did not exceed a thousand: 
they had a very soldierly appearance, 
and went through their maneeuvres with 
great exactness. I was informed, there 
were a great many gu uarding their mines, 
which lie far in the incenion. of the coun- 
try. The mines are said to be un- 
commonly rich, but their situation is con- 
cealed from all strangers, and no one is 
permitted to view them. An attempt to 
visitthem would be attended with the most 
dangerous consequences. I was told for 
a fact, that any one found near them or 
on the road leading to them, is imme- 
diately hung upon the next tree, unless 
he can give a satisfactory account of 
the cause of his being in that situation, 
The prisons are exceedingly strong 
buildings, very large, and appeared to be 
well stocked. They likewise look from a 
distance, to be well defended by artillery: 
Account of Rio-Janetro, S91 
which upon examination, will be found te, 
consist of nothing else than the muzzles of 
the guns laid upon the’ embrasures and 
the breech supported by two pieces of 
wood in the form of a cross. Indeed 
some of their apparently strongest forts 
are only defended im this very ‘impolitic 
manner; the guns in such a state, being 
for some time perfectly useless ;~so 
that I should think it would be a very 
easy matter with a small squadron to take 
the place. 
The people are all Roman Catholics, 
and carry the ceremunials of ‘their reli- 
gion to an extravagant height. Yet they 
make no difference as to Sunday: [mean 
in transacting business all days are alike. 
{tis no uncommon thing to see a proces- 
sion of upwards of two hundred people 
preceded by aband of music, carrying 2 an 
image of the'% Virgin and our'Saviour un- 
der a canopy of crimson velvet with gold 
tassels and fringes; the whole supported 
by friars.’ “Each persoti ofthe tvain has 
a large wax flambeau, which; whether it 
be day or night, is l#hted. These flam- 
beaux havea very pretty: appearance when 
itisdark. Twas astonished to sce ladies and 
gentlemen, when drest in their best ap- 
parel, and when the streets -were not. 
very clean, fall down upon their knees, 
and remain in that’posture till the whole 
procession had passed them.’ ! 
The festivals of their saints, even at pri- 
vate houses, are kept ingreat style. Upen 
one of those days my attention wasdravwn 
to the door of a house by a band cf mu- 
sic. As the curiosity of a stranger is 
commonly excused, my companions and 
I pr esumed to peep in and see what was 
going on. We here observed a great 
assemblage of people of both sexes seated 
at a table, which was profusely spread 
with preserved fruits, sweetmeats, &c. 
also at the head of the table, a small 
image in a glass case. We were invited 
in and pressed to partake of their dainties, 
as alsoofsome good wine, which they were 
passing freely round. tl: wing complied, 
we were then informed, that “it was the 
feast of St. Ann, and that it was her 
saintship who presided at the head of 
table. 
The churehes are most magnificent; 
and fitted up in a manner rather osten- 
tatious. In most of them are two organs, 
a small and a large, the latter being onfy 
used upon particular oceasions. The part 
of the service which they accompany, is 
chaunted the same manner as in our ca-= 
thedrals.. The altars are oraamented 
with very fine carvings and tapestry, uns 
commonly rich; also a number of silver 
or, 
