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page 151 ---appearance and dress---

Mineiros, the people of the state of Minas Gerais

Here, as everywhere in Minas Gerais, the rich people are very obliging to strangers, especially when they bring letters of recommendation from their acquaintances. However singular it appears, it is yet certain and observed by every traveller, that the inhabitants of Minas are entirely different both in character and person from those of the other capitanias, and particularly from the Paulistas. The Mineiro has in general a slender lean figure, narrow breast, long neck, oblong face, black lively eyes, and black hair on the head and breast; he has naturally a noble pride, and something very delicate, obliging, and sensible in his outward behaviour; he is very temperate and seems particularly to be fond of a romantic way of life.

People of Pernambuco

In all these features, he much more resembles the lively Pernambucan, than the gloomy Paulista. Like the former, he seems to have a certain predilection for foreign productions and dress. Like the Englishman, the Mineiro is very fond of clean linen and white garments, particularly on holidays. His usual national costume differs from that of the Paulista. It generally consists of a short jacket of calico or black velveteen, a white waistcoat with gold buttons, the small clothes of velvet or velveteen, long boots of undyed leather, which are fastened above the knees with buckles, and a beaver hat with a broad brim, serves at the same time instead of a parasol; the sword, and often the musket, together with the umbrella, are his inseperable companions whenever he goes any distance from home.

page 152 ---women---appearance---

Their journeys, however short, are never made but on mules. Their stirrups and bits are of silver, and the handle of the great knife, which sticks in the boot below the knee, is of the same metal. In these excursions the women are always carried in litters, either by mules or negroes, or dressed in a long blue pelisse and round hat, sit in a kind of arm chair fastened upon a mule. Their dress, except the head, which is only protected by a parasol, is in the French fashion, the borders of their white robes are frequently ornamented with embroidered or printed flowers and gallant verses.

We did not stay long at S. Joao d'El Rey, because we expected that everything relative to the gold-washing, and the geognostic particulars of the mines might be examined with more advantage at the capital, Vila Rica. The road from this place leads towards the N.E., on the western declivity of the Serra do S.Joze, which, on the whole, has a barren appearance, and takes its direction from S.W., to N.E. Beyond this mountain stands the little town of S.Joze, which has nothing particularly remarkable, except its principal church, which is the handsomest in all Minas. Some of the inhabitants in this valley have planted European fruits in their gardens with great success, they have likewise made trials of oats, barley, and rye; the latter species of corn seems however not to thrive so well, running up into stalk, rather than forming ears, which, besides, ripen at different times, or bring the grain suddenly to maturity so that it falls to the ground.