The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-30
LIFE In THE BRAZILS.
4 ouEER co usrar OF MASr RACES.
uov tn. Portuguese Have Mixed With the
AborIgines-Tbe Botocudoss or
"Barrsi-Bung Indians"

Para. Brazil Sept. 10-Speaking OF Bra
lillian festas in previous letter. we for
got 10 mention the great annual Cor
teia." which during the days Of the EN-
pire was the chief social event Of the year
In every city Up 10 the last few months
OF pretended Republicanism cortejas al
vavs occurred on Dom Pedro's birthday.
and might also be given on every ami
yersary OF his accession 10 the throne, or
on the natal days Of any member Of the
royal family, from away back to Pedro l..
or grandfather King Jeno-as pleasure
loving folk I'm the United States celebrate
Washingtons birthday. st. Patiick's day,
the Fourth OF July and divers other occa-
sons. by balls, etc. But in Brazil there
is deal more 1ummery about It and de-
cidedly more Of man-w orship than would
be tolerated in the land of the free. 1t
was well enough when the kind old En-
peror himself received the homage Of his
people, but in places remote from The cap
ital where he was obliged TO receive il
by proxy, the ceremonies were almost bar
barrie.
IN DOM PEDHO's DAY.
1t is only a very little time "a few days
before the recent fail Of the Empire) that
ceremonious corteja was held in this
enlightened city Of Para in honor Of EN-
press Theresas birthday. The president
OF the province issued deliberately gotten
up invitations, bidding ell the foreign
cOnsuls and local authorities and church
dignitaries and prominent citizens gem
orally; and the failure OF IN invited per-
son to attend would have been looked
upon as equivalent to declaring himself
at outs" with the ruling powers. Ac-
cording TO universal custom on these
gala days the consuls appeared in their
uniforms, the president and officers Of
the army and navy in full regimentals,
the archbishop in his robes, priests in the
habits of their respective orders, judges
in their sombre toggery, members Of the
corporation in their quaint dresses and
the crowd Of civilians in black dress
suits, decorated with all the badges and
stars and crosses and ribbons they could
muster for the occasion, whether earned,
inherited or borrowed
The PROCESSION.
AS usual the ceremony began with a re
DeUm in the cathedral after which the
gorgeous but motley asscmblage marched
in solemn procession to the "Palacio,"
headed by a military band playing the ma
tional airs. Arrived at the palace, the
president led the way up fight of steps
and paused before q hcaYly-curtained
door, until an aide-de-Camp dramatically
pushed aside the porteire and invited the
company to enter the chamber Of state.
Then all fled into a long room, hung with
gold and green, lighted by a line Of win
dows overlooking the river. richly cur
tanned with green and gold damask
Topped with bullion. At the further end
OF the hall, under a superb canopy of
green ana gold frOnted by an elevated
dais, stood the only articles Of furniture
IN the immense chamber of state-tWo
life-sized portraits, more or less works
Of art" by native artists, OF Dom Pedro
II and the Empress. The president Of the
province .solemnly took lis stand upon one
side Of the pictures and the archbishop
on the other side, fanked by such lesser
dignitaTies as the chief justice, the gen
eral-at-arms, commander of the national
guard, etc. Then with gravest fOrmality
the procession advanced, single file. down
the centre Of the room, the cOnsuls com
Inc first and strictly according TO the
rules Of precedence. At the foot Of the
dais each person paused and made three
profound salaams-frst to the portraits,
then 20 the authorities on the right. then
to those on the left, and then retreated.
craW fish fashion, out by a side door. not
daring 10 turn his back upon those "coUn-
terfeit presentments" Of royalty, and the
cOrteia was at an end. When all had
thus salaamed themselves out OF the au-
gust presence. the president, with a few
DISTINGUISHED guests whom he he'd es-
pecially invited, stood In the windows Of
the palace and reviewed the troops as
they filed before him. amid martial music
and the booming of cannon At night, or
rather next morning, the celebration was
concluded by the inevitable fireworks and
q brilliant bail I'm the theatre Of "Our
Lady OF the Peace" attended by all the
beauty, wealth and fashion of the ylcin-
age
THE DELLEs OF PIAZZA.
The ladies Of Para are rs renowned for
their beauty as the bellies of Linn. but
one seldom gets n glimpse Of any female
members Of the arstocracy on the streets.
for they live as secluded, almost, as their
Moorish great grandmOthers, even taking
their airings in closed carriages. Only at
church, the theatre and cOrte jas may they
be seen; and then the curious stranger
is apt to be disappointed. Though their
black eyes are beautiful and hair glossy
and abundant, their features are POrtu-
guese and compleNons generally the color
Of an old shoe. while the majority show