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Brazil and Brazilian Society.
[September,

capital, seek a less rude employment, becoming comedians, gardeners, professors, dentists, photographers, etc.

One day, on the way to Rio, I was stopped by a person whom I did not recognize; it was one of those poor wretches whom I had found, half dead with hunger, fatigue, and destitution, on the Upper Parahyba. I had given him a shirt, thinking it would be his winding-sheet. He survived by a miracle, dragged himself from tavern to tavern, and had established himself as a dentist at Rio Janeiro.

FRENCH IMPOSTURE.

As may be supposed, after these details, the French do not enjoy a high reputation in the country, and all the misdeeds of foreigners are attributed to them. It must be observed, however, in excuse of the Brazilians, that the greater part of foreigners speaking French style themselves Frenchmen, Many a time, upon asking one of these improvised Frenchmen the name of his department, I have been answered, Friburg, Namur, etc., a satisfactory answer for the Brazilian, who is ordinarily but little versed in geographical science. But the planter has something worse to fear than the misdoings of the Rhenish Jew, The latter looks only to his purse; but the Parisian, after the second glass of porto, enters upon the chapter of polities and discusses the constitution with his host. From the constitution to the abolition of slavery and emancipation of the blacks is only the distance to a third glass, and our man is upon too good a road to stop, One of those children of the Place Maubert, who had come to Brazil to do—no matter what—was taking leave of a rich nabob who had harbored him for six months.

'Well, are you satisfied with my people—have they treated you well?' asked the fazendeiro, grasping his hand.

'Senhor, your house is a palace, and you are a true gentleman. But———'

'But what?' demanded the astonished planter,

'My gratitude and my thanks,' continued the Parisian, 'would be better addressed to your negroes, for, to speak the truth, it was they who fed me.'

THE MULETEER.

A very original native character, sometimes met with upon the large fazendas of Central and Northern Brazil, is the muleteer. He is large in person, with a sun-burnt complexion. Long, glossy locks and a certain shade of the skin indicate that he has a large preponderance of Indian blood in his veins. His origin is unknown. The plantation people saw him arrive one day at the head of two or three hundred mules, He came from the most distant portion of the empire, made five or six hundred leagues through unexplored forests, sleeping in the open air, and having scarcely any thing for his daily nourishment beyond a handful of manioc, He stopped to ask the master of the fazenda for a lodging, and to refresh himself after his three months' journey; but being charmed with that liberality which is only found among the rich planters of, the New World, and by the immense unoceupied pasture-grounds that surrounded the estate, he asked the planter to let his animals profit by this neglected wealth. From that time he established his headquarters on the plantation, where he raises his mules. From time to time he makes a trip through the neighborhood, and sells those that are trained. In his spare moments he makes himself useful about the fazenda by giving instructions how to throw the lasso, and to subdue stubborn animals; he also serves as squire upon journeys and as sacristan to the padre. When all his mules are sold he goes away by the road upon which he came, makes new purchases, and reappears the next year with another herd. This traffic is very lucrative. Having no expenses to pay with the planters who entertain him, as well as his negroes and animals, buying young mules in a country where money is scarce, and re-selling them ready trained