Q&2 



ST. LUIZ. 



rived four, and twenty hours before the merchant 

 to. whom she was consigned could have obtained 

 any information regarding her. To render the 

 night still more agreeable, some heavy rain fell ; 

 the deck was leaky, and about midnight I was 

 "obliged to rise and look for a dry corner. 



The city of St. Luiz, situated upon the island 

 of Maranham, and the metropolis of the estaclo, 

 or state of Maranham, is the residence of a cap- 

 tain-general and the see of a bishop. It is built 

 upon very unequal ground, commencing from 

 the water's edge, and extending to the distance 

 of about one mile and a half in a N. E. direction. 

 The space which it covers ought to contain 

 many more inhabitants than is actually the case ; 

 but the city is built in a straggling manner, and 

 it comprises some broad streets and squares. 

 This gives to it an airy appearance, which is 

 particularly pleasant in so warm a climate. Its 

 situation upon the western part of the island, 

 and upon one side of a creek, almost excludes it 

 from the sea-breeze, by which means the place 

 is rendered less healthy than if it was more ex- 

 posed. The population may be computed at 

 about 12,000 persons or more, including ne- 

 groes, of which the proportion is great, being 

 much more considerable than at Pernambucy. 

 The streets are mostly paved, but are out of re- 

 pair. The houses are many of them neat and 

 pretty, and of one story in height ; the lower 



