This he did, firmly believing that education was dangerous to the lower orders.

His church taught him, too, that the Bible was a dangerous book; and whenever a copy fell into his hands he immediately destroyed it.

During the disturbances that took place after the time of King John's departure for Portugal, and just before Brazil became an independent state under his son, the Emperor Don Pedro I., Padre Caramuru lost a beloved and only brother.

He was quite a youth, and had joined the army only a few months previously, at the desire of his elder brother the padre, who was so overwhelmed by the blow that he ceased to take an active part in church or political affairs and buried himself in a retired part of his native valley.

Here he sought relief and comfort in the study of the beauties of Nature by which he was surrounded, but found none.