In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

47 chapter xi y How the Planter Should Receive Guests, Whether Religious or Laymen Hospitality is both an act of courtesy and a Christian duty, and it is much exercised and highly esteemed in Brazil. Since there are no inns outside the cities, all wayfarers must resort to the plantations, where they usually find free of charge what would cost money in other lands. This applies both to the numerous religious figures , who go about seeking alms, and to the missionaries who work in the Bay of Bahia and in the hinterland. They exercise their sacred ministry to the great benefit of souls. This also applies to laymen who, either from necessity or because they are friends or relatives, seek hospitality on their travels. It is a good thing to have a separate house for the guests, because it is then easier to accommodate them without inconveniencing the household . Having a separate house will also avoid infringing the privacy of the interior rooms, where the wives, daughters, and serving maids are busy preparing dinner and supper. Guests should not be treated more lavishly than their respective ranks demand, since a large number have to be entertained in the course of the year. Chickens and pigs, or some fish from the sea or from the river, together with some shellfish from the mangrove swamps and what the mill provides in the way of sugar and sweets—this is enough to prevent anybody from complaining with reason. To go further than this (save in special cases for justifiable causes) is to exceed the limits of hospitality and will impoverish the planter to such an extent that he cannot be equally generous in the future. To give alms is to lend money at interest to God, who will repay it a hundredfold. But first of all, one should pay what is due to the government , and then piously give alms as far as one’s capital and yearly income will allow. In this connection the planter will never have reason 48 The Cultivation of Sugar to regret being an alms-giver, and the sons will learn to imitate their father. If he leaves them inclined to works of charity, he will leave them very rich and with their wealth secure. For vagrants, let him have hoes and sickles ready. If they wish to stay on the plantation he can tell them through the overseer that if they will work they will be paid their daily wage. In this way, they will either continue on their journey or else become day laborers instead of vagrants. It is likewise not convenient that the sugar master, the bookkeeper, or the overseer should host prominent people from the city or elsewhere for any length of time in their houses, where they will pass their time in idleness. This is especially true if they are young and unmarried men. These guests only serve to distract the skilled workers from their respective duties. These guests would also rouse the female slaves on the plantation. They are easily led into evil ways through their immoderate desires. The employees should be cautioned about this when they are engaged, as otherwise they will find themselves saddled with nephews or cousins whose vices cause them sorrow and displeasure. The missionaries who unselfishly go about doing their work should be received with a right good will. If they meet with a cold reception, they might think that the planter, either through little love of God, miserliness, or some other reason, does not approve of missionary work. This work is important because consciences are adjusted with God, instruction is given to the ignorant, long-standing feuds and scandals are ended, and all are exhorted to think of the salvation of their souls. ...

Share