88 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



furniture is an old-fashioned gilded chair in each division, the one farthest 

 from the door being raised on a low platform, affording formerly a sort 

 of throne for power and distinction, Tlie dome is an octagonal pyraniid, 

 on the sides of which, as well as in the upper part of the compartments 

 below, are pictures. Those in one of the buildings represent the produce 

 and manufactures of the country; plantations of indigo, cotton, and 

 sugar, of mandioca and milho, the harvests of each, and the various 

 modes and machines, by which they are brought to a marketable state. 

 In the other are pictures of Rio scenery, and of some great events in the 

 history of the city ; of the entrance of the harbour, as it appears from 

 that spot ; of the manner of catching whales in the harbour, before they 

 deserted it ; of the land view ; and of the state of the place, previous to 

 the formation of the gardens. In this picture, the most remarkable 

 objects are the convent of St''. Thereza, the old white house, whence the 

 inhabitants of the city are nick-named Caraocas, and the arches of the 

 aqueduct, under which a considerable stream is flowing. An ox is 

 represented as passing through the stream, and shows the channel to 

 have been about knee-deep ; such I have learned was the actual state of 

 the place about the year 1750, then covered with water ; now occupied 

 by these gardens and several good streets. Another of the compart- 

 ments represents a naval engagement as taking place in the bay, the 

 scenery of which cannot be mistaken ; it is certainly Rio de Janeiro, but 

 the enemy's vessels carry Dutch colours, and I know of no fact in the 

 history of the place, to which this circumstance can possibly apply. I 

 suspect that, by a little tissue of falsehood and flattery, to which the 

 Caraocas are by no means averse, they intended to appropriate to them- 

 selves the honours of Bahia. The last division of the dome represents 

 the burning of a large Dutch vessel ; boats are towing her off* from the 

 rest of the shipping, which are placed behind the II ha das Cobras ; she 

 is coming round the Eastern part of that island, and must be near the 

 llha dos Ratos. On the Western side of this latter rock Me, at this 

 day, the keel, stem and stern-posts, and some of the futtocks of a ship, 

 which are said to be the remains of the identical vessel. The wreck. 



