The population of Brasil is composed of Portuguese, negroes, and Indians. The former do not differ mate rially in character from those in the mother country. They are still more superstitious. In the principal towns, never a day passes, that some saint is not carried in pro cession through the streets, the figure of which, though extremely rude and grotesque, is adorned with jewels and precious stones, which arc chearfully lent by the wealthier inhabitants. The ceremony is accompanied by the populace with rockets, squibs, and other demon strations of extravagant joy. The manners, however, of the numerous monks and priests are generally des cribed as no ornament to their profession. Yet Brasil possesses the advantage of the mother country in having been always free from the scourge of the inquisition. Those who are supposed liable to its sentence, may be sent to Lisbon and tried there ; but still its yoke must be much less severe, than if it were established, and act ing on the spot.
The Brasilians are generally branded by foreigners with the character of craft and perfidy ; vices natural to the subjects of an absolute government, especially of one which imposes such a multitude of superfluous and ru inous restraints on commercial intercourse. Revenge and cruelty formed also prominent features, and assassi nations were frequent ; but in the southern provinces of Bahia and Rio Janeiro, the greater refinement of society has greatly alleviated the violence of these passions ; though at Pernambuco and in the north, they still rage as much as ever. The manners of both sexes are gen erally described as extremely licentious ; and those of the ladies of Rio Janeiro have been exposed to peculiar reproach, from the custom of throwing flowers from the windows on passing strangers. Mr Barrow, however, candidly supposes, that this is merely a national custom, which is not understood to imply any dereliction of vir tue. There seems no doubt, however, that Brasil con tains a full proportion of licentious characters of both sexes.
Except religious ceremonies, there are few public amusements in the cities of Brasil. Their attempts at theatrical entertainment are wretched, both in point of accommodation and performance. AI usic only, for which the people possess a natural talent, is performed with tolerable skill. But the most favourite of all recrea tions is the dance of the country, a compound of the Spanish Fandango with the negro, and surpassing both in licentiousness. Growing refinement of manners, however, is gradually banishing this indecent exhibition, which is now indulged in with some degree of secrecy. In Bahia, by the latest accounts, card parties had be gun to be established, which promise to bring the tone of society nearer to the European standard.
The gorgeous magnificence in which the wealthy Brasilians indulge, is accompanied with a total neglect of internal neatness and cleanliness. This appears in
their clothes, in the furniture of their houses, and in the manner of preparing their food, which is in the highest degree disgusting. Their bodies are filled with vermin, which are searched for without disguise, and a certain cutaneous disorder, the consequence of filth, which is accounted so disgraceful in this country, is there so universal, that no one thinks of concealing it. Notwithstanding the abundance of cattle, provisions are bad, as the inhabitants are incapable of those attentions which, in a warm climate, where perspiration is so pro fuse, are necessary in order to fatten them. There are no inns for the accommodation of strangers : A person who takes up his residence, for however short a time, must hire and furnish a house for himself.
The most profound ignorance reigns throughout this country; and there seems as yet to be no impulse of cu riosity which can afford the hope of its speedy dispersion. Some naturalists belonging to a British vessel, having engaged in an excursion into the country, and being seen wandering through its unfrequented tracts, the government took alarm at so unaccountable a conduct, which was removed by the assurance that they were catching butterflies. Thus the inexaustible field which this country opens for the cultivation of botany and na tural history is yet untrodden ; and even the condition of the neighbouring Indian nations, though so interest ing and accessible an object of enquiry, has not received any illustration from them.
There is one characteristic, very little to be expected under such a government, in which the Brasilian co lonists do not seem to fall short of the freest people of the new world ; this is, in the general sentiment of equality which pervades all ranks. The white servant converses with his master on the most equal footing, and instead of promptly obeying his commands, enters into a discussion on their propriety, and often advises a different course of proceeding ; all which the master takes in good part, and often adopts his suggestions. The same manners prevail among the troops, and even on board ships of war. Never an order is issued, which does not become an immediate subject of debate and dispute ; till the captain, who apparently is not so in dulgent, terminates it by the vigorous application of a strong cane, which he carries constantly about with him. An Englishman, who ventured to remonstrate against the very liberal use of this instrument, was assured, that " no work could go on without it." The naval officers, indeed, seem to know very little how to keep up their dignity, since they are often seen engaged in the same card party with the private sailors.