Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/94

36 with long, lank, black hair. As to their policy, or manner of living when at home, I could not learn anything.

The military here consist of twelve regiments of regulars, six Portuguese and six Creoles, and as many of provincial militia, who may be assembled upon occasion. To the regulars the inhabitants show great deference, for as Mr. Forster told me, if any of the people did not pull off their hats when they meet an officer, he would immediately knock them down, which custom renders the people remarkably civil to strangers who have at all a gentlemanlike appearance. All the officers of these regiments are expected to attend three times a day at "Sala" or the viceroy's levée, where they formally ask for commands, and are constantly answered "there is nothing new." This policy is intended, as I have been told, to prevent them from going into the country, which it most effectually does.

Assassinations are, I fancy, more frequent here than in Lisbon, as the churches still take upon themselves to give protection to criminals. One accident of the kind happened in the sight of S. Evans, our coxswain, a man whom I can depend upon. He saw two people talking together, to all appearance in a friendly manner, when one suddenly drew a knife, stabbed the other twice, and ran away pursued by some negroes who likewise saw the act. What the further event of this was I could not learn.

Of the country I know rather more than of the town, as I was ashore one whole day. In that time I saw much cleared ground, but chiefly of an indifferent quality, though doubtless there is much that is very good, as the sugar and tobacco which is sent to Europe from hence plainly testify; but all that I saw was employed in breeding cattle, of which they have great plenty, though their pastures are the worst I ever saw on account of the shortness of the grass. Consequently the beef sold in the market, though tolerably cheap, is so lean that an Englishman can hardly eat it. I likewise saw great plantations of Jatropha Manihot, which is called in the West Indies Cassada, and here Farinha de Pao or wooden meal, a very proper name, for the cakes they make