May God in his goodness and infinite mercy protect and sustain my wife and my children, while I am endeavoring to secure a home for them here, is the constant prayer of my heart.
I am now separated from all that is held dear in the associations of life; and no step has ever been taken heretofore which caused me so much anxiety and apprehension for the welfare of my family as leaving them in the midst of troubles and irregularities in society, such as the world has never witnessed before. But having taken all the preliminary steps which human forecast could suggest for the comfort of those near and dear to me, and with the attention of a kind friend, who would look after them and their interests with the care of a brother, I trust in the providence of a merciful God, that they may be preserved from all harm, and that we may be soon returned to each other in health, peace, and happiness.
Sunday, November 5, 1865.
This being the Sabbath, I announced my intention to make it a day of rest, and the old Colonel said he would remain with me, while the others purposed to take a ride of fourteen miles to the Tieté river. A huge bag of provisions was prepared for the expedition by our host, and a guide was expected to meet them at the town of Jahu. But notwithstanding all these preliminary arrangements, the trip was abandoned, and all remained quietly at the house of Dom José Correa Leite de Moraes for the day. He is a cousin of the Colonel.
Several gentlemen came to visit us from the surrounding country, and dined with us. Among them was a Catholic priest, Senor Francisco Ferreira Garcia, the vicar of this district, and Senor Lorenço de Arruda Prado, another cousin of Colonel Joaquim.
The former had the misfortune to be thrown from his mule after bidding some of our party good-by upon the road, but was not injured. The latter appeared to be a very clever gentleman, and is said to be a successful planter. In being introduced to him by my old friend, the Colonel, I was informed of his relationship, and on his leaving, I extended the customary assistance in mounting his mule, which is regarded here as a simple act of courtesy to a gentleman who visits you. This act of attention is a part of that general politeness which is observed among the best class of Brazilians, and struck us, as it must every one not familiar with the usages of the people, in the light of a menial service that was not compatible with the relation of one gentleman to another, yet custom makes it not only proper and becoming, but almost obligatory. The party assisting usually looses the horse, holds the bridle, and steadies the stirrups while the other mounts, and the guest is expected to avail himself of this assistance without regard to the age or rank of the person tendering it, though in some instances he may demur when he thinks circumstances should preclude it.
Our host is lively and intelligent, speaking French with fluency, and having a little knowledge of the English. Shortly after our arrival at his house, I made some remark to him in Portuguese, which at first was not understood, and he indicated his wish that it should be repeated, by the usual word, “Como?” (How?) I used the same expression again and was fully comprehended, and answered accordingly. Immediately after this, General Wood’s interpreter, Mr. Snell, who is an Englishman that has been a number of years in Brazil, spoke to the Dom in Portuguese, and he, taking this to be another American with a slim stock of the language, did not comprehend what was said, and replied to him, “Não entendo,” (I don’t understand.) This gave us a good laugh upon Mr. Snell. In my use of the language it was simply “Como?” but with him, who was here as interpreter, the party addressed was compelled to say “Não entendo,” taking him to be a novice in Portuguese. The fact is, that while Mr. Snell understands the language well, and speaks it fluently, he has a habit of cutting off the last syllable of his words, that makes it somewhat difficult at times to gather the full meaning of his remarks, and hence this mistake.
The lady of the house has evidently associated more with gentlemen than most of those occupying a like position, and hence appears more at ease in company, joining in general conversation with those who speak the language. She departs greatly from the habit of our ladies by suckling her child in the presence of gentlemen. Though she was in the dining-room during our meals, the crowded table was perhaps a sufficient reason for not being seated with us, and she was looking after the proper supply of articles by the servants, though the Dom seemed to assume the chief responsibility in this respect.
The culinary arrangements of this establishment, like most others in Brazil, are under the same roof with the residence of the family, and the fire is built upon the earthen floor in the open room, without any other outlet for the smoke than is afforded by the spaces between the tiles which cover the house. As it was rather cool during the evenings, we took a seat in a circle around this fire, and thus had a very sociable family circle, which gives me the key to an explanation of that term, which has never before been fully understood.
Our host follows the course of his kinsman, Colonel Joaquim Lorenço, in regard to the abundance of supplies upon his table at all three meals, and supper is quite equal to breakfast in the variety of the articles. I tell them that they give us three dinners every day, and if we were to remain stationary, all would be foundered in a short time, or take the gout, though I do not hear of this affection in the country.