236 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



amounted to ;£'24,ooo ! This is the tale that was told me. 

 Money is not made so easily now ; but I believe the 

 different companies pay well, and no wonder. They are 

 not hampered by the restrictions of a Board of Trade, and 

 the cost of materials and construction must be a small 

 item in comparison with what it is in England, as the 

 general style appears to be the use of a small flat grooved 

 rail, weighing perhaps twenty pounds to the yard, fixed by 

 screws to longitudinal wooden sleepers. The roads are 

 kept in good repair, except those in the centre of the town, 

 where the paving is in a chronic state of disrepair and full 

 of holes. 



The two companies of St. Christovao and Villa Isabel 

 have likewise very extensive systems of main and branch 

 lines from the city towards Tijuca, to the Waterworks ; and 

 to the suburbs from which the lines derive their names. 



These three companies are all of the broad gauge. 



The fourth is the " Carris Urbanos," or City Rails, which 

 has a network of lines of narrow gauge throughout the 

 city, connecting every part of it with the three above- 

 named routes, but not extending into the suburbs. There 

 is also the Sta. Theresa line, worked by the owners of the 

 inclined plane. 



The cars are all open, which is most objectionable 

 whenever it rains. They consist of rows of seats, with 

 reversible backs, to which one climbs by a continuous foot- 

 board at each side ; a roof keeps off the sun. There are 

 a few close cars, similar to those in use in England ; but 

 they are labelled " Descalgos e bagagem " — for the use of 

 those without shoes, and for goods. The fare by them 

 is half-price. None of the poorer classes or blacks are 

 admitted into the ordinary cars unless they wear shoes 

 The line appears drawn at that point ; shoes they must 



