RIDE INTO THE COUNTRY. 



19 



of expectant stillness, and the weather is very 

 sultry. 



One afternoon I rode out with several young 

 men to a village in the neighbourhood, for the 

 purpose of delivering a letter to one of the rich 

 merchants. We passed through Boa Vista, and 

 proceeded along a narrow sandy road, formed by 

 frequent passing and repassing ; and along the 

 sides of this are many of the summer residences of 

 the wealthy inhabitants of the town, which are 

 small, neat, white-washed cottages of one floor, 

 with gardens in front and at the sides, planted 

 with orange, lemon, pomegranate, and many 

 other kinds of fruit-trees ; some few are in- 

 closed partly by low walls, but for the most 

 part they are protected by fences of timber. 

 About half way we came out upon the banks of 

 the Capibaribe ; the view is exceedingly pretty ; 

 houses, trees, and gardens on each side : the 

 river bends just above, and appears lost among 

 the trees ; the canoes going gently down with 

 the tide, or more laboriously forcing their way 

 up against it, formed altogether a delightful pro- 

 spect. The river is here rather narrower than 

 the Thames at Richmond. Along the sides of 

 the road, at this spot, are several black women 

 selling oranges, other kinds of fruits and cakes, 

 and canoe-men with their long poles, unable to 

 delay, bargaining with them for some of their 

 commodities. This was the first time I had 



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