NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



MB 



half of them to Rio de Janeiro ; they were, in general, brigs fi-dm one 

 to two hundred tons burden, and completed their voyages in four or five 

 months. The country produce is brought down in yatchs, froiia twenty 

 to seventy tons burden. A few of the brigs load at Porto Aiegpci ; ithe 

 greater part at St. Pedro, whence all are obliged to take their cleaarance. 

 The value of this trade to Brazil is incalculable ; notwithstanding the 

 injury which it receives from the Governtnent draining the country of iU 

 cash, and furnishing nothing in return. 



Before the goods which we brought hither could be disposed of, it 

 was necessary to have a Sui*vey of the vessel, and as the Risk was really 

 British, we were compelled to observe our own forms as nearly as 

 possible, but coming under the Portuguese flag it was held to be proper 

 that the regvilations of the port should be maintained. It was deter- 

 mined, in the end, to follow both modes. The survey by British 

 Captains and Merchants was soon accomplished ; not so that of the other 

 party. First, the damage was to be reported at the Custom-house ; then 

 a messenger must be dispatched to Porto Alegro, two hundred miles, to 

 ask leave to hold the survey. Permission being obtained, and notice 

 given to about ten persons to attend the next day ;at an appointed hour, 

 the group, made up of every rank^of men in office, from the Deputy- 

 judge xiown to a tide-waiter, accompanied by two merchants of the town, 

 assembled near the Custom-house. All were in full dress; the chief 

 alone wearing his hat, until he deigned to intimate that the rest of the 

 party might be covered. The airs of importance, the formal bustle and 

 compliments, were not a little diverting. The ship's boat had been 

 ordered to attend; but we found that another, more commodious, had 

 been impressed on the government service. At length we began to enter 

 the boat ; at first mth diie attention to precedence, the Captain giving 

 his hand to the principal officer, and afterwards to two or three of inferior 

 rank. In the same orderly way we might have proceeded to the end, 

 had not others' hiirried in and taken their seats ; some unwilling^ it may 

 he, to make their superiors wait ; some, probably, aware of the ridiculous 

 figure which a man exhibits when standing in expectation of undue and 

 unwonted honours* 



