78 
RIO JANEIRO. 
the top. The last quarter of a mile, or the last rise to its summit, 
causes one to become somewhat breathless in a hot day. But when 
the top is gained, it is worth all the labour of climbing, and amply 
repays for the exertion. 
The whole of the magnificent harbour, the city and environs, lay 
beneath our feet. A bird's-eye view is had of every thing, grouped 
in the most pleasing variety ; and nothing strikes one so forcibly as 
the white sandy beaches of Botofogo and Praya Grande, with the 
beautiful blue of the sea washing on them. The many lakes, the 
castellated peaks, and the variously shaped craggy and broken hills, 
are all softened by the light and airy green vegetation, creeping up 
their sides so as to melt them almost into one. The harbour was 
covered with its busy and now tiny fleets, and many of its large 
islands looked as but specks on its flat surface. The day was 
beautifully clear, and the refreshing sea breeze just what we could 
desire. The tower and observatory have been destroyed. To have 
an idea of the beauty of Rio and its environs, it is necessary to 
mount to the top of the Corcovado, or some high peak in its 
neighbourhood. 
After finishing our observations, and fully satisfying ourselves 
with the beautiful scene, we descended to the Belle Rue, where we 
enjoyed a rest and lunch. We returned to the city by the way of 
the Aqueduct late in the afternoon, all greatly delighted with our 
day's jaunt, which, beside the amusement, we had made quite a 
profitable one in the way of collections. 
SLAVES SLEEPING. 
