176 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



under the Government key. In front of it, close to the water, is a small 

 tiled shed, raised upon posts over a planked floor, and furnished with 

 a crane, which is the only public wharf, and the place where all mer- 

 chandise must be landed. 



At no great distance is the Jail, a miserable dungeon, enlightened 

 only through an open railing in front, which, at the same time exposes 

 the prisoners, and displays such wretchedness as may, possibly, have more 

 effect on some minds than a sense of moral rectitude. 



The Governor's House is at the West end of what has been described 

 as the principal row of buildings, of one story only, like the generality of 

 its neighbours, but distinguished from almost every other habitation 

 in the place by an ascent to it of a few steps, and by its glazed windows. 

 Before it are the ruins of a wooden erection, which was once the Theatre 

 of St. Pedro. 



In the same row is what few of my countrymen would hesitate to 

 call the comfortless abode of the Vicar, the chief Clergyman of the 

 Parish. It consists of two stories ; the lower open or appropriated to 

 offices, the upper, entered from without by a step-ladder, contains the 

 family apartments. The walls are whitened, the windows much like 

 those of our hay-lofts, with shutters painted red. 



The Ferry House, the only place where a boat is allowed to be 

 hired, is commodiously situated near the public quay. For his exclusive 

 privilege, the proprietor pays a rent to the Crown, and is obliged to 

 furnish, and keep in order, a Catraia or Launch, which, when the 

 weather permits, must cross the water every two hours. The fare is 

 about six-pence ; and should a man wish to cross at any time but the 

 usual ones, he may command a boat for a double fee though he should 

 be the only passenger. 



When the Farmer of this Ferry heard that the Royal Family had 

 arrived in Brazil, he owed to the Crown eight hundred thousand Reis, he 

 therefore mounted a horse, and with the greatest secresy set off without 

 passports for the Capital, where he arrived at the end of three weeks, 

 having travelled nearly eight hundi^ed miles, by an unusual route, for the 



