Rio de Janeiro 59 



again and again. And then we saw that over the low 

 rock ahead a flag was flying, and we made out openings 

 in its sides, and presently from these the fire spat and 

 the smoke poured. Other forts, here, there, every- 

 where began to thunder. It was exactly noon. What 

 did this cannonading mean? Oh! it was only the sign 

 of popular rejoicing. The yth of September is the 

 national holiday of Brazil and corresponds to the 

 4th of July in the United States. It was Independ- 

 ence Day. We were running the forts at the entrance 

 without being 'stormed at by shot and shell.' The 

 smoke of the cannonade drifted out over the channel 

 and became so thick that it partly hid from view the 

 city and the shipping in the distance. We had chosen 

 a fine day on which to make our landing. Rio de 

 Janeiro was en fete, and as we emerged from the veil 

 of the powder-smoke we saw that the men-of-war were 

 gaily dressed with flags ; we saw that every ship at an- 

 chor was flying the colors of Brazil ; we heard the sound 

 of martial music coming from the shore; bands were 

 playing; rockets were banging; and firecrackers were 

 snapping everywhere. These Brazilians celebrate their 

 "Seventh' with as much noise as we celebrate our 

 "Fourth. ' And now the screw has stopped ; we begin 

 to move slowly and more slowly still. As we hang over 

 the rail we can at last scarcely detect any motion. 

 11 Let go ! ' comes the command. A hoarse roar of chains 

 at the bow! a splash! we are at anchor! Before us lies 

 the capital of Brazil. 



Owing to the fact that the stevedores at Santos were 

 on a strike our captain had received instructions to 

 discharge the cargo intended for Santos at Rio. We 

 were accordingly informed that we would make a stay 

 of from four to five days, and I therefore determined to 



