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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



crest is reached from Vermelha Beach, 

 on the Rio shore, by aerial ropeway. 

 The car lands you first on the summit of 

 a lesser rock, Urga, where there is a park 

 and restaurant, the second longer flight 

 carrying you high above the forest, with 

 the sensation of sailing in a balloon. On 

 up you float, skirting the great granite 

 cliff, landing at last on the very peak of 

 the rock. A cyclopean task, the building 

 of this aerial railway ! 



The view, while altogether different 

 from the Corcovado panorama, is mag- 

 nificent. You are well out in the bay, 

 directly above the forts which guard the 

 entrance, looking back on Rio's crescent 

 shore. As the glowing coppery sun drops 

 behind the jagged mountain tops, dusk 

 envelops the land in a mystic reddish 

 haze. One by one the lights of the city 

 gleam out. Night falls and Rio is a 

 be jeweled goddess on a purple velvet 

 throne. 



A SUGGESTION TO THE SHOPPER IN THE 

 BRAZILIAN CAPITAL 



"What," asks the prospective tourist, 

 "can I buy in Rio — something distinctly 

 Brazilian?" 



If you yearn for a parrot or a monkey, 

 both are on sale in the city's mammoth 

 market by the waterfront, with its six- 

 teen miniature streets and four hundred 

 and seventy-two compartments. With 

 the exception of the little brown mon- 

 keys, the whistling sabias from the hills 

 back of Rio, and the scarlet-crested 

 birds from Rio Grande do Sul, all the 

 animals and birds come south on "coast- 

 ers" from northern Brazil, and can be 

 bought for less money in Pernambuco, 

 on your way home. 



Brazilian diamonds come from the 

 near-by. State of Minas Geraes. They 

 are not as large or as clear as South Afri- 

 can gems. Other native stones of lesser 

 value include the amethyst, topaz, aqua- 

 marine, and tourmaline, the last in many 

 colors. 



It is easy to go sightseeing in Rio. 

 Automobiles, which here observe no 

 speed limit, rent for ten milreis an 

 hour — about three dollars in our money 

 at the present rate of exchange. Vic- 

 torias, drawn by a smart pair of mules, 

 are less expensive. 



EIRST-CLASS TROLLEY LINES AND 

 THREE-CENT FARES 



Horses are nearly obsolete, an epi- 

 demic having carried them off many 

 years ago. Were it not for equestrian 

 statues in the parks and the occasional 

 appearance of the Brazilian cavalry, the 

 little Fluminese might acclaim a horse in 

 the "zoo" as a strange and interesting 

 animal. 



In no other city which I have visited 

 is trolley riding so delightful. The Cana- 

 dian company, known locally as "The 

 Light," supplies electric power and oper- 

 ates an elaborate system of trams, or 

 "bonds," as the Brazilians call them. 

 The first electric road issued bonds ; 

 hence the name. 



To every part of the city, to the moun- 

 tains, ocean beaches, and far-distant 

 suburbs, these trams carry you in com- 

 fort. The open cars are large and solidly 

 built. No crowding is allowed ; every 

 one is seated. Smoking is permitted on 

 all but the first three seats. The fare 

 varies with the distance, one hundred 

 reis (about three cents) for each section. 

 There is little or no dust in Rio, which 

 adds greatly to the pleasure of the ride. 



I have twice visited this Brazilian 

 fairy-land. I long to return. Now and 

 then on our way through life we meet a 

 man or a woman with an individuality 

 which grips, and now and then on the 

 wide world trail we find a scene which 

 dominates. Such is Rio de Janeiro, City 

 of Lure. 



So long as glory of form and color 

 gladden the eye, Rio will stand preemi- 

 nent in beauty among the habitations of 

 man. 



