122 TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



order had not been at all disturbed in the rest of 

 the kingdom. It stated its distance from the con- 

 tinent, to be two days sail from Cabo Frio, and steer- 

 ing rather more westward towards the coast, soon 

 vanished out of our sight. The astronomical cal- 

 culations, which differed only about twenty miles 

 from the result given by the log, made us, in agree- 

 ment with the statement of this vessel, on the 12th 

 of July at noon, in 21° 44' south latitude, and in 

 40° 45' west longitude of Paris. On the even- 

 ing of the 13th of July, the captain announced that 

 we should see Cabo Frio the following morning. 

 How ardently did we long for the moment when, 

 after a voyage of two and forty days, we should 

 again come in sight of a continent. The assertion 

 of the captain proved correct ; and on the 14th, in 

 the morning, a long-extended chain of moun- 

 tains, floating as it were in mist, appeared in the 

 west. The deceiving clouds were gradually dis- 

 pelled,* and we perceived more clearly in the re- 

 mote distance, the woody chain of Cabo Frio, which 

 was joyfully hailed, first by the man at the mast 

 head, and then by all on board. 



The day was delightfully serene and bright, 

 and a favourable wind carried us past the lofly 

 cape, and soon after the noble entrance of the 

 bay of Rio de Janeiro, though still at a distance, 

 opened to our view. Steep rocks, like portals to 

 the harbour, washed by the waves of the sea, rise on 

 the right and left ; the southern, Pao d'a9ucar of 



