FETWTMWW— W 



BHHBM 



%& 



OLINDA. 



mornings were filled up, either in riding to the 

 Recife or to some other part of the country, or 

 in conversation at the houses of any of the fami- 

 lies with whom we were acquainted ; and the 

 afternoons and evenings with music, dancing, 

 playing at forfeits, or in dining with some of 

 the English merchants, a few of whom had also 

 removed to this place and its neighbourhood. 

 At many of the Portuguese houses I found the 

 card-tables occupied at nine o'clock in the 

 morning ; when one person rose another took 

 his place ; and thus they were scarcely de- 

 serted, except during the heat of the day, when 

 each man either returned to his own home to 

 dine, or, as is much less frequent, was requested 

 to remain and partake with the family. 



On the last day of this year I was invited to 

 visit Olinda, that I might witness the festival 

 of Our Lady of the Mountain. The city is, as 

 I have already observed, situated upon a hill, 

 very steep in front of the sea, and declining gra- 

 dually on the land side. Its first appearance, 

 on arriving upon the coast, is so beautiful, that 

 the disappointment experienced on entering it is 

 great ; but still Olinda has many beauties, and 

 the view from it is magnificent. The streets are 

 paved, but are much out of repair ; many of 

 the houses are small, low, and neglected, and 

 the gardens very little cultivated j indeed the 

 place has been deserted for the Recife. How- 



