CHAPTER II. 



(1.) Harbor of Rio Janeiro. — (2.) Palace of the Emperor. His Birthday. — 

 (3.) Churches in the city. Sunday. — (4.) Private Dwellings. Streets and 

 Fountains. — (5.) Number of inhabitants. State of Education. Funerals. 

 Amusements. — (6.) Condition and occupations of the slaves. — (7.) Suburbs 

 of the city. Appearance of the country — (8.) The Empire of Brazil. Pro 

 ducts. — (9.) Mines. — (10.) Imports and Exports. — (11.) Sailing of the 

 Squadron. 



(1.) Coming from the sea, Rio Janeiro, or more properly, 

 perhaps, Rio de Janeiro, presents a grand and imposing ap- 

 pearance. The city is built on the southern shore, close to 

 the entrance, of the bay of the same name. Near it, but 

 higher up, is the pretty town of San Domingo, and directly 

 opposite, is Praya Grande. The bay is a fine sheet of water, 

 one hundred miles in circumference, and sprinkled, here and 

 there, with small evergreen islands. 



On the right, as you pass up to the anchorage, is Fort 

 Santa Cruz, at the foot of Signal Hill ; on the left is Fort 

 St. Lucia, on an island near the mainland ; beyond this, in 

 the same direction, is Sugar Loaf Hill — an isolated rock one 

 thousand feet high, around whose lofty crest the white fleecy 

 clouds forever linger ; and further on, are the notched and 

 uneven peaks of Gavia and Corcovado. In front is the busy 

 and thriving capital of the Brazilian Empire, — a forest of 

 tapering masts and spars in the foreground, and richly deco- 

 rated churches, glittering facades, and massive tiled roofs, in 

 the rear. Behind these are the blooming environs of the 

 city, gay gardens, delightful quint as, cool shady groves and 

 verdant forests, stretching far away into the interior, — a con- 

 stant succession of beautiful objects meeting the eye, till the 

 view is bounded in the west by the towering pinnacles of the 



