Prince João Carlos, Prince of Beira

Music

The popular Afro-Brazilian lundu dance

The lundu, an Afro-Brazilian dance characterized by sensual movements and syncopation, was performed in courtyards after the workday. While elites performed polite contra dances, the lower classes preferred the more expressive and energetic lundu.

At the table

Pork as the primary protein source

Pork was the most consumed protein across all social classes, and butchers in Rio de Janeiro were supplied twice daily, early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Daily life

Simple and often dark colonial homes

Houses were typically dark, simple, and constructed from rammed earth, stone, or brick, with narrow layouts that limited airflow and natural light. To repel insects, some residents mixed cow dung with the clay used for walls.

What people wore

Informal home attire for men

Brazilian men often discarded stiff outer layers at home, wearing only a cotton shirt, knee-length breeches, and clogs. Only a few elite men owned nightgowns, which were used to signal worldliness and status.

Getting around

Mule trains transported goods over months

Mule trains were the primary method for transporting goods between towns, with a trip between São Paulo and Vila Boa taking four months for the round trip.

What it cost

Subsistence and earnings in urban Recife

In the city of Recife between 1827 and 1837, the daily cost for the subsistence of an enslaved person was 120 réis, while they could generate a daily net income of 200 to 240 réis in simple occupations.