The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-07-27
Al iSttllanu.
Notes ON the Inhabitants OF Brazil.
HN e. FRED HART.

Whena man says am an ImuTdn,"
he has indicated to II, his nationality in a
political sense, but he has given us no
clue as to hi, place in the great family of
man considered from natural-history
point ofview. IIemay have descended from
Tcutonic or Semitic rarentsor he may be
OF mixed stock. The United States are
peopled by representatives ofalmost every
race ON earth Each race, where it pre-
,cr1ea lis blood pure in descent,perpetuates
to a greater or less degree its race charac-
tcr1. Thus in America we have the In
dian, Negro German, Irish, English, and
other elements distinctly marked, in our
population But with time, mixtures of
blood of very complicated nature are
taking place, and these results In the pro-
duction Of a mixed race Of men, which,
growing up under peculiar political social,
and religious influences, have taken on
peculiar national characteristics, and these
vary with the conditions which have ten
ded toward their development, and are
visible in the whole make of the man ply
slcally,mentally, y,molally. Thus speaking
broadly, We have the Southern and the
Yankee. Notwithstanding the hetero-
geneity Of the race-elements in our popu-
lation, there is national tom ensemble
which distinguishes the American from
the German or the Italian.
Braziel bears 4 remarkable resemblance
to the United States in the mixture Of
blood visible in its inhabitants. When
Cabral discovered the land of the " True
Cross" he found it peopled by savage In,
dians belonging to several different and
well-marked tribes. On the coast he
found the Tupis, powerful nation which
long agohad come from the south, driving
before it the Botocudo Indians, who dis
persed themselves before the invaders
taking refuge in the forests and mountain
businesses.
Under the influence Of the Jesuits, the
most Of the coast tribes and those on tht
tmazona, became converted to Christian
ity, and,in-toad Of disappearing altogether
a. the Indians Of the east coast of NORTH
America have done, have continued il
existence, adopting ,hc custom. and creed
Of their European couqucrors, while they
have become mixed with their blood. The
Botocudo tribe however, had resisted al
most entirely the influence of civilization
and, prosecuted by the white settlers, hat
rapidly dccaycd, 50 that ere long it mus
90 ont of existence. The white settler
Of Brazil are for the most part Of Portu
eucsc descent, though there are German
Dutch, aud American coonists. SLAYER,
has introduced another and very impor
tant element into the population of tn,
country. The fusion of all these divers,
elements particularly of the Portuguese
/ Negro, and Indian, has produced natiol
with very marked characteristics, bu
these vary locally; the inhabitants o
Para, pcrmmbuco, Minas Gerase, Rio
and San Paulo differ markedly from on
anothcr,ju>t a the inhabitants Of differen
parts Of the United States differ.
The whites, descendants of the Portu
guesc, preserve the general features an
characters Of their ancestors. They ar
short of stature, rather slimly built darl
or sallow skinned, black-eyed, and wit
black hair and whiskers The forehea
is rather low The men are usually thin
featured and lean, but muscular and tough
and, on the whole,are good-looking. TIL
women are, as general thing, much in
ferior in good looks to the Spanish, ,thoug
of much the same type, In their CIR
hood some are extraordinarily beautiful
their beauty consisting principally j
their long oval face, delicate nose, black
languishing eyes, small mouth and luxur
rant hair but their beauty is fugitive
and they grow rapidly old, tending yer
frequently toexcessive enJoa-poim in mid
die age.
As children, the Brazilians are yer
bright, intelligent, and quick, making el
cellent scholars, but noted however ,rathe
for quickness than for depth Brazil hs
a school system well-nigh as perfect &
that of New England, and every one learr
to read, write and keep accounts. 1t
we'll known that in Brazil, as in othe
tropical countries, the children matur
very early, so that one misses in Braz
the big immature boys and girls of Mort
America.
Except in the cities, and especiall
among the educated, there is nothin
which corresponds to the English an
American home-cirole, with all its atteI
dant advantages for culture. The educi
tion of the girl is confined to the mere
rudimentary acquaintance with the Po
tuguese and French literature, and ii
accomplishments of music and dancin