52 RIO JANEIRO. 
Santa Anna, are two large basins, about fifty feet long and twenty- 
five wide. These are commonly filled with about two hundred neoro 
women, who daily assemble to wash. Numbers of them are half naked, 
standing up to their middle in the water, beating and thrashing the 
clothes against the stone wall, to the great destruction of buttons, &c, 
Few articles are transported in any other way than by slaves, 
and it is extremely rare to see a cart drawn by any beast of burden. 
Antique-looking carriages and two-wheeled calescas are generally 
seen. 
It is impossible to remain long at Rio without noticing the geolo- 
gical structure of the country. It is all granitic, and occurs in vast 
blocks. Dr. Pickering and Mr. Brackenridge, who visited the Organ 
Mountains, reported that the country was of the same general cha- 
racter, but on a much grander scale. 
The garden at the bay side is delightfully situated. From this 
point the bay offers amusement at all hours. I should think the 
people of Rio might be classed among the indolent, and that they 
are not fond of walking, for the garden appears to be but little 
frequented. 
The museum is open twice a week, and is quite creditable to the 
city, and well worth seeing. It appears to attract more attention 
from the inhabitants of Rio than I should have been led to expect. 
It is extremely rich in its native collections, and well taken care of. 
The theatres, of which there are three, are seldom open on week 
days, but always on Sunday. 
The sail up the bay is beautiful. The surrounding picturesque 
peaks, varying their outline with every change of position, give it 
great variety, and the objects are so interesting that one is never 
tired. The many islets that stud this bay add greatly to its beauty, 
and excite interest, covered as they are with tribes of tropical plants^ 
all new to the eye. Among these are seen tufts of Bromelias and 
Cactus, while Orchideae plants were abundant on the rocks and trees. 
This bay is usually covered with small boats, passing to and fro, 
felucca rigged, without decks, and generally about twelve tons' 
burden. These boats are rowed by blacks, who are seen toiling at 
their task. The oars are large, the men row in a standing posture, 
and thus add the weight of their bodies to their strength. At times,' 
the bay seems alive with the number of these vessels, and of small 
canoes, each made of a single trunk, which are occupied in fishing. 
Many of these vessels are also engaged in the coasting trade. 
