Princess Francisca of Brazil

What people wore

Everyday clothing for children and workers

Children often went completely naked in their early years, while enslaved women working in fields or as laborers frequently wore only a simple shirt. In some urban settings, young girls began wearing skirts around age 6 to 11, with differences in style reflecting social status.

Daily life

Lack of water and sewage infrastructure

Running water and sewage systems were non-existent, so enslaved people transported water from public fountains or rivers in buckets and removed waste using barrels known as tigres. Bathing often occurred in small basins or tubs, sometimes using tin sheets.

Music

Music in religious festivals

Religious festivals often featured processions with choirs, orchestras, and traditional groups like congados, which were pantomimic folk dances of African origin.

At the table

Cassava flour and the pirão paste

Cassava flour was a staple eaten by all classes, often mixed with meat juices or broths to form a thick paste known as pirão, which was typically eaten with the fingers.

Getting around

Decorated lead mules guided the way

Lead mules were decorated with ornaments like peacock feathers, shells, and ribbons, and wore a bell to help guide the rest of the herd.