i6o Voyage of the Novara. 



sense of gratitude for the noble hospitality shown us by our 

 amiable hosts. 



Another favour was conferred by Drs. de Lagos and Schiich, 

 who formed a fishing-party on a grand scale, which was greatly 

 enjoyed by all, though the gun proved more profitable to our 

 naturalists than rod, line, or net. 



As the number of days at our disposal in Rio Janeiro began 

 to diminish, we applied ourselves to seeing the utmost possible 

 with the smallest sacrifice of time. The morning after our 

 excursion on board the Santa Cruz, we attended a sitting of the 

 Chamber of Deputies. The hall, oval in shape, is plainly, but 

 comfortably fitted up. The members sit on benches in a semi- 

 circle. Opposite the president stand tables for the ministers of 

 state ; at the upper and lower end of the hall are galleries for 

 the public, and one is specially assigned to the diplomatic body. 

 Each member speaks from his place. Their language is very free, 

 and their behaviour still more so, — they sometimes carry this 

 so far as not to allow a speaker to proceed j and in screaming, 

 brawling, and violence, they excel even certain members of the 

 late French Chamber of Deputies. There are said to be some 

 very able speakers amongst the Brazilians. The subject of 

 debate was a petition presented to the House for an inquiry into 

 the conduct of a late minister of justice, who was accused of 

 having tyrannically dismissed a government officer in the pro- 

 vince of Maranhao. The subject had created great interest in the 

 public mind, and the galleries were crowded to suffocation j we 

 did not remain till the conclusion of the debate, but the minister 



