36 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



is found in the buildings ; they are generally of two stories, but 

 the ranges are broken by some of three, and by others which have 

 only a ground-floor, with the addition of a sort of attic in the roof 

 The walls, as far as the covering of plaister and vs'hitewash allowed us to 

 judge, are well constructed of granite; the thresholds, door-posts, lintels, 

 and window-frames, are of massy quartz or felt-spar, brought from 

 Bahia in a state ready for use ; the roofs are universally covered with 

 semitubular tiles. The lower story is, in common, occupied by the shop 

 and warehouse ; the second and third, if there be one, by the family 

 apartments, to which there are long and narrow passages taken from the 

 ground-floor, and communicating with the street. In the outskirts of 

 the town the streets are unp»aved, the houses of one floor, low, small, 

 and dirty ; and the doors and windows are of lattice-work, opening 

 outward to the annoyance of passengers. 



Among the objects which most attracted the attention of a stranger, 

 in the streets of Rio, were the projections from the upper windows, 

 called Jealousies. At each window, and level with the floor of the 

 room, was a sort of platform of stone, about two feet and a half broad, 

 which served as the basis of a balcony, not breast-high only, as might be 

 supposed, but rising to the top of the window. It was formed of lattice- 

 work, generally of a fanciful pattern, and divided into pannels or 

 compartments, some of which were fitted up with hinges at the top, so 

 as to form a sort of flap, which, when opened a little way, allowed the 

 persons in the balcony to look downward into the street, without being 

 seen themselves. The interstices of the lattice served for a purpose of 

 great use in this warm climate, the admission of air into the house. 

 These jealousies gave to the fronts of the tibuses a heavy and suspicious 

 appearance, rendered the streets dull, and indicated that the inhabitants 

 had little sociability ; such, at least, was the impression made upon a 

 mind unaccustomed to them. 



It may be observed that I have spoken of jealousies as they were. 

 A few montlis after this note was put on record, an order was issued by 

 the Regent to cut them down to modern balconies. They who loved 



