1883.] The Naturalist Brazilian Expedition. 355 
pire. The market, like most of those in this province, consists of 
two rows of stalls, with a passage between, running around a great 
open court, in which are other stalls for the sale of fruit, vegeta- 
bles and small wares. Fine grapes, grown in the province, were 
plenty here, and cheaper than in New York; pears, apples, 
peaches, tomatoes and so on were also native, but those we saw 
were high priced and not very good. Oranges, at this season 
(January), were scarce and dear, but from May to September they 
ae very plenty, and hardly inferior to those of Bahia and Pernam- 
uco. 
Opposite Rio Grande, on the eastern side of the channel, is the 
village Sao Josédo Norte. Formerly this was the main port, and 
it is still used for coal, lumber and marine stores. 
We stopped but a few hours in Rio Grande, our objective point 
being Porto Alegre, the capital of the province, which lies at the 
northern end of the Lagoa dos Patos. Communication between 
the two places is kept up by means of excellent small steamers, 
which leave Rio Grande once or twice every week. Our own 
voyage was somewhat uncomfortable and crowded, for in addition 
to the large number of first-class passengers, the decks were en- 
tirely occupied by nearly three hundred Italian immigrants who 
had just arrived. These were lively, and picturesque, and dirty, 
as the manner is with their race; as a class they appeared to be 
much superior to the average Italian immigrant of Castle Garden. 
The river at Rio Grande is about two miles wide; generally 
fresh, but sometimes brackish or salt, with irregular and varying 
tides. Above this point it rapidly widens, but is much obstructed 
by sand-islands and shoals; the channel, a narrow and very 
crooked one, is indicated by rows of stakes. The river is simply 
à straitened continuation of the Lagoa dos Patos, but the southern 
end of the lake proper is considered to be at the island or shoal 
z Sarangonha, about fifteen miles above the city, and twenty-five 
rom the sea. Just opposite this island, on the western side, is the 
— of the Rio de Sao Gonçalo, the outlet of the Lagoa Mirim. 
ers plying on the Lagoa dos Patos enter this river for a few 
Miles to touch at the important little city of Pelotas, where 
cattle-killing industry centers. The shores of the 
Gongilo are flat and reedy, with lines or clumps of low 
., N€ar the water's edge; ranges of hills appear a little 
inland, on the north-western side, but to the south a great sandy 
