[11] “In the same year, 1503, Gonsallo Coelho was sent to the land of St. Cruz, with six ships, with which he left Lisbon on the 10th day of the month of June. In consequence of not having much knowledge of the land, four were lost, and the other two brought to the kingdom merchandise of the land, which then were no others than red wood, which was called Brazil, and parrots.”—Goes.
[12] An overlooker of negroes.
[13] To kiss his hand.
[14] No one had suffered the penalty of death for a long period before July 22, 1819, when a wretched criminal was hanged. He had stabbed five or six men, and it was said his punishment would have been commuted for transportation to Africa, had he not imbrued his hands in the blood of a pregnant female, whom he stabbed mortally.
[15] These parishes in the Brazil are considerable districts of country, and take their names generally from the chief or mother church.
[16] Mr. Langsdorff has recently (since his return to Europe) presented to the National Institute of Paris the head of a Botocudo Indian, who had been in his service for some years. He sent this Indian to St. Helena to collect insects, which commission he executed satisfactorily, and died soon after his return to the Brazil.
The Botocudos are really the Aymores of the province of Porto Seguro, and received their present name from the Portuguese, in consequence of their custom of perforating the ears and lips, and introducing pieces of wood as ornaments, which they imagine render them more genteel and comely.
[17] This denomination originated in Portugal, where the judge was prohibited from having any jurisdiction within his native town. Hence it is applied to judges in the Brazil, universally, without the capital.
[18] The Torres are two great and contiguous rocks, upon the coast, in 29° 40′ south latitude.
[19] Sumacas are from ten to nearly two hundred tons burden.