142 TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



crowd, of all colours and costumes, crossing each 

 other in every direction, among whom the negroes 

 carry their burden on poles ; the creaking of a clumsy 

 two-wheeled cart, drawn by oxen, in which goods 

 are conveyed through the city ; the frequent salutes 

 of the guns of the forts, and of vessels arriving 

 from all parts of the world ; lastly, the crackling of 

 the rockets, with which the inhabitants celebrate re- 

 ligious festivals, almost daily, from an early hour in 

 the morning, all combine to compose a confused 

 unheard-of discord, which is perfectly stunning to 

 the stranger. 



By far the greater part of the population of Rio 

 de Janeiro, consists of Portuguese and their de- 

 scendants, both whites and people of colour. 

 American aboriginal inhabitants are scarcely ever 

 seen here. They avoid the city as much as pos- 

 sible, and appear but very rarely, and by chance, 

 like birds of passage, in the bustle which is so 

 contrary to their habits. The nearest are said to 

 belong to the mission of S. Louren90, on the bay 

 of Rio de Janeiro, from which place they bring 

 potters' ware for sale ; others sometimes come from 

 a greater distance, from the district of Campos, in 

 the country of the Goytacazes, or from Areas, a 

 little villa, on the road to S. Paulo, or from Minas 

 Geraes, in company with the caravans of mules, 

 which maintain a constant communication between 

 these places and the capital. The brown water- 

 men, in the harbour, whom many travellers have 



