J. W. Wells, home hospitality in Brazil
Autor: Patricia | Publicado: 2013-08-28T20:41:00-03:00



On entering a venda, my appearance created as much com- motion amongst the town politicians there assembled, as if I had been a tame elephant, or similar curiosity. The Juiz de Direito and Delegado were at their fazendas, but I was shown a " casa nobre " close by as the residence of the Senhor Commandante Coronel, and informed in a sotto voce voice that he was " inn pessoa graúdo" " muito rico " and " muito importante I resolved to " coniprimentar " this evidently " big man " of the town. Accordingly I entered his open entrance- door, and clapped my hands. 
A nasal voice responded, " Quem he ?" (Who is it ?) 
" Seu criado " (Your servant), I reply, in orthodox fashion. 
Again is the unknown nasal voice heard, " Quem he ? " 
This time I reply, " Gente de fora " (meaning really a stranger). 
A slipshod old negro woman, nationally half-undressed, opened the door, and blinked at me half-scowlingly, half- wonderingly. 
" O Senhor Coronel, esta em casa ? " (Is the Senor Colonel at home ?") I inquire. 
" 'N'hor sim ^ 
" Tell him that ' um homem de fora' (a stranger) wishes to see him." 
I awaited patiently in the brick-paved entrance for some minutes, until a stentorian voice calls out from the summit of some stairs, " Quein he? " 
I reply, " De fora." 
" Suba " (come up), is the reply of the voice. 
I ascend the stairs and meet a robust, middle-aged, white man, a Brazilian gentleman in appearance. I inquire if I have the honour of addressing the " Coronel." 
" Your servant," is the reply, accompanied with a bow. 
I hand my card, and briefly explain that, being a foreigner and a passing traveller, I had taken the opportunity of calling upon one of the most distinguished residents of the " beira de Rio" (river-side). 
He put up a pince-nez and looked at my card, and eyed my travel-stained appearance from head to foot. 
" Come in and join us at dinner ; we are just sitting down." 
I apologized for my rough appearance. 
" Nao faça cerimonia " (do not stand upon ceremony) is the hospitable answer, and immediately I am ushered into the presence of his family circle. 
I found myself once again in civilized society ; a good- looking white girl, of twenty years, dressed in white muslin, her black hair decorated with the sweet angelico (Cape jessamine), received me courteously ; two young medicos from Bahia lately “ formado” (graduated), more superciliously. My rough appearance and the plebeian ajojo, of whose arrival they had doubtless already heard, did not constitute, in their estimation, the dignity compatible with a "doutor." ' After a while however, their assumed artificial gloss wore off, and they became more amiable, and finally offered me " Best Bristol Bird's- eye " tobacco. The " Coronel was evidently satisfied with my respectability, as he insisted upon my remaining at his house for the night. Thoughts of the mosquitos and the prevailing damp dews of night did not require much pressing to induce me to accept his hospitality.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]-->


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<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]--> WELLS,
J. W., Exploring and
travelling three thousand miles through Brazil from Rio de Janeiro to Maranhão
: with an appendix containing statistics and observations on climate, railways
central sugar factories, mining, commerce, and finance the past, present and
future,and physical geography of Brazil, London : Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, &amp; Rivington, 1886. Vol2, p. 44.