22 



VOYAGE FROM ENGLAND 



we saw on the surface of the sea, shoals of beautiful fish, whose 

 splendid red colour afforded us a singular spectacle. Sea-w^eed 

 (fucus J, and some mollmcce which we caught, amused us till the ap- 

 proach of night and the heavy dew, usual in this zone, forced us to 

 leave the deck for the cabin. But just as we were about to retire to 

 rest, a sound of firing in the distance summoned us again upon deck. 

 In the back-ground of the bay, where a number of large ships led us 

 to presume the city of Rio de Janeiro to be situated, we were agree- 

 ably surprised by a sight which was truly magnificent amid the dark- 

 ness of night — a splendid display of fireworks. 



The next morning was now expected with impatience : the sun 

 had scarcely darted his first ardent beams, when we weighed anchor, 

 and sailed with a moderate wind towards the harbour. We all joined 

 in a cheerful breakfast on deck : the English flag waved proudly over 

 our heads, and the full-swelled sails carried the vessel majestically 

 before the wind. A boat approached with eight Indian rowers*, and 

 brought two pilots to conduct the Janus to the city of Rio. They 

 gave us, as specimens of their fine country, some delicious oranges, 

 which were the more welcome, as we had not tasted any fresh fruit 

 during the seventy-two days of our voyage. We now proceeded 

 farther up towards the city, sailing from one shore to the other of the 

 narrow entrance of the bay. The mountains on the two shores 

 vanished ; we saw pretty habitations, with their neat red roofs, in 

 deep valleys between the mountains, shaded by dark thickets, from 

 Avhich slender cocoa-palms arose : ships were sailing in all directions ; 

 we passed several little islands, in one of which Villegagnon built Fort 

 Colligny, and which still bears his name : the French were expelled 



* The Portuguese give the name of Indians ( Indios ) to all the aboriginal inhabitants of 

 Brazil, in the same manner as all the American tribes in any part of this vast continent are 

 falsely called Indians. 



