4.4, RIO JANIERO. 
after the current month. Its interior by no 
means corresponds with its handsome appearance 
from the bay, the streets being narrow and dir- 
ty, and the buildings very tasteless. Clumsy 
churches and convents are found in plenty, but 
there is little worthy the attention of the tra- 
veller, except the Museum, which has a rich col- 
lection of rare natural curiosities, and valuable 
minerals. The extent of the town is considera- 
ble, and it contains about two hundred and fifty 
thousand inhabitants, of which however two- 
thirds are negroes, and the rest principally mu- 
lattoes and other people of colour. A white face 
is seldom to be seen in the streets; but the 
blacks are so numerous, that one might fancy 
oneself in Africa. 
Among these are a few free men; but the 
greater part are slaves degraded to beasts of 
burden. The immense weights they carry are 
usually fastened on a plank, each end of which 
is borne by a negro, keeping time to his steps 
by a monotonous and melancholy song in his 
native language, and goaded by the whip to re- 
newed efforts, when the failing of his voice indi- 
cates almost utter exhaustion. They often carry 
