numerous there, and ſome of them of good Credit and Circumſtances. The Women (not unlike the Mulatto Generation every where elſe) are fond of Strangers; not only the Courtezans, whoſe Intereſt may be ſuppoſed to wind up their Affections, but alſo the marryed Women who think themſelves obliged, when you favour them with the Secrecy of an Appointment; but the Unhappineſs of purſuing Amours, is, that the generallity of both Sexes are touched with veneral Taints, without ſo much as one Surgeon among them, or any Body ſkilled in Phyſick, to cure or palliate the progreſſive Miſchief: The only Perſon pretending that Way, is an Iriſh Father, whoſe Knowledge is all comprehended in the Virtues of two or three Simples, and thoſe, with the Salubrity of the Air and Temperance, is what they depend on, for ſubduing the worſt of Malignity; and it may not be unworthy Notice, that tho’ few are exempted from the Miſfortune of a Running, Eruptions, or the like, yet I could hear of none precipitated into thoſe deplorable Circumſtances we ſee common in unſkillful mercurial Proceſſes.
There are three Monaſteries, and about ſix Churches, none of them Rich or Magnificent, unleſs one dedicated to St. Antonio, the Patron of their Kingdom, which ſhines all over with exquiſite Pieces of Paint and Gold.
The Export of Braſil (beſides Gold) is chiefly Sugars and Tobacco; the latter are ſent off in Rowls of a Quintal Weight, kept continually moiſtened with Muloſſus, which, with the Soil it ſprings from, imparts a ſtrong and peculiar Scent, more ſenſible in the Snuff made from it, which tho’ under Prohibition of importing to Liſbon, ſells here at 2 s. per l. as the Tobacco does at about 6 Millraies a Rowl. The fineſt of their Sugars ſells at 8 s. per Roove, and a ſmall ill taſted Rum drawn from
