NOTES ON BHAZIL. 



M7 



the bottle circulated in the English mode, Avith a regulated freedom. We 

 spent the cool part of the afternoon in the most social way, in some spa- 

 cious gardens, and at dusk took our leave. 



But our obligations to the liospitality of Mage were not to terminate 

 at this point. The tide serving at an inconvenient hour, and no boat 

 going out for Rio, we were compelled to pass the night in the town. As 

 soon as this was known, we received from the same quarter an invitation to 

 supper, and were assured that one of our friendly entertainer's boats 

 would be up by the next flood, and ready for our accommodation. After 

 supper, which passed no less agreeably than the preceding meal, we were 

 conducted to an apartment, where a couch was prepared for each of us, 

 with every necessary comfort. More, indeed, than what comes under 

 this description was attended to ; for on the table stood, together with a 

 candle, a looking glass, and a decanter of water, a bottle containing 

 about two quarts of French brandy. This, we supposed, was placed 

 there under the prevailing persuasion, that every Briton was inordinately 

 attached to liquor, though too polite to incommode the ladies by an 

 immoderate indulgence of his propensities. 



In our voyage in 1816, we steered South from the Mage, keeping 

 as close to the shore as circumstances would allow ; but generally con- 

 strained, by the shoal water, to be from two to four miles distant from 

 it. Across these sands are several channels, which conduct to inlets 

 among the mangue ; one of them is said to be the mouth of the Iguape- 

 mirim, "which we did not enter, but proceeded to the Iguapezu, or 

 greater river of the name. 



In point of size, extent, and quantity of water, this is, without 



question, the first of the streams falling into the bay of Rio. The 



Inhomerim has more traffic upon it, and on that account is certainly the 



most important. The mouth of the Iguapezu is nearly six hundred 



yards broad ; before it lies a bar, which, amidst its common difficulties, 



has several channels, through which vessels of thirty tons burden may 



pass, when light, at half tide ; if coming down laden, it sometimes 



obliges them to wait three or four days for a sufficient depth of water ; 



X X 21 



