100 RIO JANEIRO. 



green and woody hills, thickly planted with villas and 

 convents, and behind which lofty mountains shoot up their 

 heads in the most picturesque and romantic forms. The&e 

 objects compose the most enchanting scene that can be 

 imagined. It struck a late traveller as greatly resembling 

 the Trosachs at the entrance of Loch Katrine. The town 

 is tolerably well built, the houses being three or four stories 

 high, though the streets are rather narrow. Two of them 

 extend the whole length, with new and broad streets strik- 

 ing off from them ; and there are several handsome squares. 

 The town is well supplied with water, by excellent aque- 

 ducts. The environs of Rio Janeiro are delightful in the 

 extreme, the valleys and sides of the hills being covered 

 with trees, shrubs, and creeping plants of peculiar beauty. 

 The bay of Bottafogo, and the sides of the rude and lofty 

 mountains called the Corcovado, are the spots most par- 

 ticularly celebrated. The king has a rural palace, called 

 San Christovao, of light and pavilion-like architecture, 

 and which from its site has a much more pleasing effect 

 than that in the city. The arsenal, the dock yard, and 

 marine establishments are on a small island within the 

 harbor. 



Mr. Barrill was exceedingly delighted with the city 

 and its magnificent harbor. He had letters of introduc- 

 tion to the British consul, and a number of other distin 

 guished persons, who gave us a handsome entertainment. 



