THE VOYAGE OF THE HASSLER = 125 
‘They are not now in Rio de Janeiro, but are living 
at their summer palace in Petropolis and were in 
town only for the day. 
This morning we took the boat for town at half-past 
six o’clock; it is so hot all excursions must be made at 
an early hour. Arrived in town, we took the horse cars 
which now go to the very gate of the Botanical Gar- 
den. You can now do with perfect comfort for twenty- 
five cents what we used to do in a carriage at a cost 
of some six or eight dollars each time. I thought the 
drive more beautiful than in old times — the beautiful 
bays enclosed like lakes among the mountains; the 
peaks of Tijuca and Corcovado with the light morn- 
ing clouds hovering against them; the gardens glow- 
ing with flowers and filled with shade trees; and then, 
at last, the great avenue of palms, symmetrical and 
impressive as a cathedral aisle. I felt that memory 
had not exaggerated anything, but that the whole 
scenery here, all the natural features, are even more 
striking and unlike what I have seen elsewhere than I 
supposed. When the Emperor comes back, he will say 
he has seen nothing since he left Brazil more beauti- 
ful than his own home. Coming out from the Garden 
at about half-past eight o’clock we found at the gate 
a very pretty little French hotel which I do not re- 
member when I was here before. In the grounds 
outside under large shade trees were placed tables 
and chairs, and there we breakfasted, having only 
taken a cup of coffee when we left the ship early in the 
morning. I find many flowers which were not in bloom 
when I was here before, in what they consider their 
