20 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



rising above a heavy belt of snow-white clouds some 

 sixty miles away. We approach the bay, and the gaunt 

 pyramidal Sugar-loaf (Pao d'Assucar, 1363 feet) towers 

 above us, the gentler slopes of the huge cone are covered 

 with trees, while the perpendicular side towards us is bare 

 and purple in the early sunlight. At its base a white streak 

 shows the sandy beach, which is washed by the calm blue 

 Atlantic. In front of the Sugar-loaf, but detached from it, 

 is a fort perched on a large rock rising above the bay. 

 There is a second fort in the centre of the entrance, and a 

 third on the right side ; the latter is likewise overshadowed 

 by a mountain, but much more rounded than the Sugar 

 Loaf. 



Entering the bay, one is struck by the beauty of the 

 town of Rio. The coast is exceedingly irregular on both 

 sides of the bay, and picturesquely broken up into many 

 smaller lagoon-like bays. Near the city are some rocky 

 islands dotted over with houses and palm trees. In the 

 midst of the town rise several hills, all more or less thickly 

 covered with houses, while in the flat parts innumerable 

 fine houses, churches, and public buildings attract one's 

 attention ; and behind all rises the lofty chain of mountains 

 which, beginning with the precipitous Corcovado, continues 

 in a northerly direction by the Pico do Papagaio, near 

 Tijuca, till it is lost in the mist It is a scene which can- 

 not be taken in at once or described after one short look ; 

 it needs often and repeated gazing at, besides a knowledge 

 of all the places themselves, to be able to describe it 

 properly ; but it is certainly very beautiful, and I hope to 

 be able to say something about the different points of view 

 at some future time. 



A large number of engineers and other gentlemen came 

 on board to welcome us, including Dr. Reboucas, who is 



