His letters to Paris show his complete contempt for everybody in Brazil, regardless of their nationality, (except for the Emperor Pedro II) with his most damning words reserved for Brazilians.[119] He wrote about Brazil: "Everyone is ugly here, unbelievably ugly, like apes".[121] His only friend during his time in Rio was Emperor Pedro II, whom Gobineau praised as a wise and great leader, noting his blue eyes and blond hair as proof that Pedro was an Aryan.[119] The fact Pedro was of the House of Braganza left Gobineau assured he had no African or Indian blood.