xotp:s on brazil. 



175 



At their head stands the Cathedral, the plainness of which, both 

 within and without, does not prevent it from being a handsome edifice. 

 At each end of the front rises a square tower finished with, a small turret. 

 The entrance is by folding doors, and over it is the orchestra, lighted by 

 a large round window, giving some little ornament to the front. The 

 chancel and altar face the doors ; on each side a portion of the area is 

 railed off for male worshippers, and in the centre is the station of females. 

 From the ground to the ridge of this church is about fifty feet, and before 

 it the sand has accumulated to the same height ; but the wind, striking 

 against the building, has caused it to recoil from the walls, and formed a 

 sort of deep and gloomy dell, leading to the door. 



A short new street, at the Eastern side of the town, conducts to the 

 only defence of the place, by courtesy called the Fort ; far better calcu- 

 lated to suppress an insurrection than to keep out an enemy. It is an 

 artificial mount of sand, its sides covered with sods, and on the top a 

 platform surrounded with a breastwork of earth, with embrasures for 

 six guns. Here is also a signal post, which announces the appearance 

 of vessels off the Bar, and the number, which may have entered the Port 

 during the night The guns of the Fort are brass long eighteen pounders, 

 excellent workmanship, and ornamented with the arms of Spain ; they 

 are mounted on carriages, which would be demolished by a first discharge, 

 and are placed in a circle, so far distant from the channel as little to 

 annoy an approaching enemy. The magazine is a poor mud hut at 

 the foot of the hill, with a few balls lying about it ; but if there 

 were powder, it would be impossible to keep it in order in such a 

 situation. 



Pitiful as is the chief Custom House of Brazil, that of St. Pedro 

 falls as much below it as the town is inferior to the capital. It is a stone 

 building, with walls about ten feet high, and covered with a deep roof, 

 giving it the appearance of an old EngHsh barn. Within, two square 

 portions are railed off, each of which is furnished with a table and forms, 

 for the transaction of business ; the insignificant remainder of space, 

 enclosed within its walls, is the only place where goods can be deposited 



