PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



55 



and regret, to one of the governesses, that so young a child should be shut up 

 here for life ; she replied, that it was infinitely better than being exposed to the 

 wickedness of the world. They are involved in great ignorance, but apparently 

 not only comfortable, but happy, and great cleanliness pervaded that part of 

 the convent that we saw. We returned by the same avenues ; and the bell, 

 which had been intrusted to my novel management, sending forth rather un- 

 usual sounds, induced some of the more secluded sisterhood to peep, with 

 some surprise, out of their cells ; and, as I was found not to be intuitively a 

 bellman to their wishes, I was as quickly deprived of my new situation. 



An aqueduct, for furnishing water to the Cidade Nova, is nearly completed ; 

 in which quarter some new fountains are to be observed, especially the Lagarto, 

 and another in the Campo St. Anna, large, built of stone, and discharging the 

 water by numerous spouts. 



The fountains in the eastern district of the city consist of one in the Palace 

 Square, in the shape of a tower, the MarrecaS; one in the Moura Place ; and 

 the Carioca, with twelve spouts ; all of which are supplied by the aqueduct 

 already mentioned. 



A visit to its source I found to be a most interesting excursion. I was 

 accompanied to it by two friends. We directed our course to the village of 

 Matta Cavallos, passing underneath the double arcade, the superior one having 

 forty-two arches, and which conducts the water from the Therezian hill across 

 a valley close to the city. We called upon Mr. Langsdorffe, the Russian 

 consul, and proceeded from his house up a gradual ascent, covered with almost 

 impervious woods, and, after crossing a deep glen, gained the terrace, which 

 is formed by excavation along the sides of mountains and precipices for nearly 

 four miles. As far as two white pillars, opening into the Orange Valley, a dis- 

 tance of about three miles, the terrace has been recently repaired, and forms 

 of itself a very fine promenade. Upon its inner side the range of aqueduct is 

 erected, which is nearly eight feet high, consisting of two walls, a yard from 

 each other, which space is arched over, and encloses the small stream of water 

 that flows rapidly along a channel hewn out of stone. As far as the pillars it 

 has been recently enlivened by white- washing, and at certain distances small 

 apertures are left, for the purpose of ventilation. In some places, small iron 

 gates are introduced into the wall, to admit of the occasional entrance of per- 

 sons within it ; those gates are locked, and an opening is left at the bottom 

 large enough to receive the arm. There is likewise a bason, cut out of the 

 stone, to supply the passers-by with water, which has rather a peculiar flavour. 



