RIO JANEIRO, BRAZIL. 33 



States, had been a source of the greatest annoyance 

 to us. 



Enxadas is also the place where our observatory was 

 erected. It is a small rocky island, situated opposite Rio, 

 with a large dwelling-house standing at one end of it, and 

 a number of other buildings which were formerly used by 

 shipping as store-houses. It is at present the property of 

 a wealthy French family, residing in Rio Janeiro, but for- 

 merly, we were told, it was owned by the church, and the 

 dwelling-house above-mentioned was a nunnery. 



December 1st was the anniversary of the Emperor's 

 birthday, Don Pedro II. The occasion was celebrated 

 with salutes, illuminations, and fireworks. 



December 10th. I received orders to relieve Mr. C, on 

 board the "Relief," he being obliged to return to the 

 United States on account of ill health. 



On the 17th, got under-way, and were towed out the 

 harbor by boats from the " Independence" and " Porpoise," 

 but the wind failing soon after the boats left, we let-go the 

 anchor to prevent our being drifted on shore by the tide. 

 At an early hour next morning the breeze sprang up from 

 the southward and eastward, and we hove-up the anchor, 

 and stood down the coast. 



January 2d. The Barometer was observed to fall from 

 29, 84, to 29, 52 ; but the weather remained pleasant. 



During the 4th many birds were seen ; among others the 

 albatross (diomedia exulans), giant petrel, cape pigeon, and 

 a species of gull. 



On the 10th we passed Cape St. Joseph. This cape is a 

 rough, rocky headland, about 150 feet in height. A large 

 number of guanacos were seen on a neighboring hill, and 

 a great many birds on the beach. 



At daylight on the 21st, made the land near the strait of 



