BRAZILIAN SLAVE ANCESTOR SMOKES TRADITIONAL CIGARETTE, 1997-12-23 (photo)

FOR RELEASE WITH STORY BC-BRAZIL-SLAVES - An elderly ancestor of Brazilian slaves smokes a traditional cigarette made of corn leaves inside her mud-brick hut in the remote all-black community of Sao Jose, about 200 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro. Isolated from white society, the community's 120 blacks are keen to preserve their way of life and African roots. They eek out a living from the surrounding land, raise children on the old legends of their ancestors and practice traditional celebrations which have been passed on through the generations. Picture taken 7DEC97. FEATURE