Page:The naturalist on the River Amazons 1863 v1.djvu/267

 then launched out into a denunciation of the Cametaenses and the Liberals in general. He said he was a pure white, a "Massagonista;" the blood of the Fidalguia of Portugal flowed in his veins, whilst the people of Cametá were a mixed breed of whites and Indians. I noticed that this boasting was ill received by the rest; it is generally, in fact, considered bad taste in Brazil to boast of purity of descent. Soon afterwards most of the visitors departed, and we dined in quiet. A few days afterwards I crossed the river to the Major's place, and spent two days with him. The house was a very large two-story building, having a large verandah to the upper floor. There was an appearance of disorder and cheerlessness about the place which was very dispiriting. The old gentleman was a widower. His only son had been brutally massacred by the rebels in 1835, whilst he was crossing the river in a small boat, and his two daughters were now completing their education at a seminary in Pará. The household affairs appeared to be managed by a middle-aged mulatto woman; and a number of dirty negro children were playing about the rooms. Amongst the outbuildings there were several large sheds, containing the cane-mill and sugar factory, and beyond these a curral, or enclosure for cattle. The mill for grinding the sugar-cane was a rude affair, worked by bullocks. The cane was pressed between wooden cylinders, and the juice received in troughs formed of hollowed logs. Sugar-cane here grows to a height of 18