RIO JANEIRO, BRAZIL. 



31 



airy, and furnished with regal splendor. Rio is indebted for 

 many of its public buildings to Don Pedro I. It was his 

 ambition to make the capital of Brazil a second Lisbon. 



The appearance of the city on Sundays is very much the 

 same as on week days ; the stores do business, and the work- 

 shops are kept open. A few of the inhabitants may be seen 

 to attend divine service on that day, but the greater number 

 spend their time at the billiard-rooms and theatres. Religion, 

 which is Roman Catholic, according to the latest statistical 

 accounts, is in a very depressed condition. The revenues of 

 the church are so small that few respectable persons will 

 undertake its duties ; and those who do officiate are generally 

 ill-instructed. 



Another circumstance which struck me very forcibly was 

 the immense number of slaves* employed about the streets as 

 carriers of coffee and sugar. They go about almost naked, 

 and bear upon their bodies the distinctive mark of their tribe. 

 They appear to work with cheerfulness, and generally go about 

 in gangs with a leader, who sings while they are carrying 

 their loads. The song usually relates to their native country, 

 and they all join in the chorus. They constitute a large pro- 

 portion of the population of the city. In general, they are 

 kindly treated by their masters, and may purchase their free- 

 dom. Their color operates less to their prejudice than with 

 us. When free they vote, and are eligible to a seat in the 

 national legislature, or to any situation in the army and navy. 



The aqueduct which supplies Rio with water, is a splendid 

 and substantial work. It extends from the city to a reservoir 

 on the summit of Corcovada mountain, distant about twelve 

 miles. This reservoir is supplied by the mountain- vapors 



* Previous to 1830, the number of slaves annually imported into Brazil amounted to 

 40,000. Since the prohibition of their importation the numbers have fallen off 11,000. 



