NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



171 



discerned from the deck, and gave us directions how to steer. At length, 

 a boat came out to meet us, with a pilot on board, and, by appropriate sig- 

 nals, did us the same service. These signals not only point out the course, 

 which a vessel is to take, but sometimes direct her to anchor where she is, 

 or even to proceed again to sea, when there is not water enough on the 

 bar to carry her safely over. The first of these directions is given by 

 holding from the boat a small flag in the direction which the vessel ought 

 to take ; the two latter by lowering it altogether. The signals which 

 the vessel ought to make in order to show her depth of water will be 

 given in an Appendix. When we had reached the boat she did not put 

 the pilot on board, but proceeded a little a-head, sounding with a long 

 pole, which was dexterously turned over from end to end, as we pro- 

 ceeded across a broad and shallow bar, situated in a deep and dangerous 

 bight. We entered the river between a bluff head to our left and a 

 long, low, sandy point to the East, through a passage about half a mile 

 wide, guarded by a few miserable erections called Forts and Batteries. 

 Just within the passage lie the vessels, which have received their lading 

 and are ready to proceed on their voyages, waiting for a sufBcient depth 

 of water on the bar. Round the point resides the Piloto-Mor, who has 

 the superintendence of the place, and to whom I am greatly obliged lor 

 many kind and gentlemanly attentions. 



The decline of day, and the tediousness of our progress, rendered 

 me impatient and induced me to ascend the mast, hoping to look 

 beyond the flat, dreary, desolate, and almost houseless waste, immedi- 

 ately before our eyes. From thence nothing was to be discovered on the 

 East, but loose and barren sand; Westward appeared a tract of swamps, 

 partially covered with brush-wood ; beyond, a broad line of water, the 

 Bay of Mangueira ; and still farther, the small, white, pretty-looking 

 town of St. Pedro do Sul, more commonly called Rio Grande. The 

 Church, which the people dignify with the name of Catliedral, rose in 

 the centre of the buildings and formed the chief feature of the view. 

 Before us lay several vessels at anchor, and among them a fine schooner 

 with the British flag flying ; indications of commerce which cheered our 



