40 RIO DE JANEIRO CHAP, n 



qualities, and amethysts, are the stones most usually found. 

 Of the first I did not see any, but was told that the viceroy 

 had by him large quantities, and would sell them on the 

 King of Portugal's account, but in that case they would not 

 be at all cheaper than those in Europe. I bought a few 

 topazes and amethysts as specimens ; the former were 

 divided into three sorts of very different value, called here 

 pinga, d'agua qualidade premeiro and segondo, and chrystallos 

 ormerillos. They were sold, large and small, good and bad 

 together, by octaves, or the eighth part of an ounce : the 

 first sort 4s. 9d., the second 2s. 4d., the third 3d. ; but 

 it was smuggling in the highest degree to have anything to 

 do with them. 



Formerly there were jewellers here who cut stones, but 

 about fourteen months ago orders came from the King of 

 Portugal that no more stones should be wrought here 

 except on his account. The jewellers were immediately 

 ordered to bring all their tools to the viceroy, and from that 

 time to this have not been suffered to do anything for their 

 support; there are, however, a number of slaves who cut 

 stones for the King of Portugal. 



The coin current here is either that of Portugal, especially 

 thirty-six shilling pieces, or coin made here, which is much 

 debased, particularly the silver. These are called petacks, of 

 which there are two sorts, one of less value than the other, 

 easily distinguishable by the number of reis marked on 

 them, but they are little used. They also have copper coins 

 like those in Portugal of five and ten rey pieces. Two of 

 the latter are worth three halfpence; forty petacks are worth 

 thirty-six shillings. 



The harbour of Eio de Janeiro is certainly a very good 

 one : the entrance is not wide, but the sea breeze which 

 blows every morning makes it easy for any ship to go in 

 before the wind, and when you get abreast of the town it 

 increases in breadth prodigiously, so that almost any number 

 of ships might lie in five or six fathoms of water with an 

 oozy bottom. It is defended by many works, especially the 

 entrance, where it is narrow, and where is their strongest 



