SOUTH AMERICA. 141 



ter seldom rose above eighty-four degrees of Farein- 

 heit, but the temperature was rendered more support- 

 able by the land and sea breezes. The most dis- 

 agreeable part of the day was from eight until ten 

 or eleven, until the sea breeze gradually freshen- 

 ed. In the afternoon, during at least three days in 

 the week, the clouds gathered, and after some thunder 

 and lightning, they descended in rain; the nights 

 were extremely pleasant and cool. During one or 

 two days, we had a tolerably stiff breeze, so as to ren- 

 der it somewhat unpleasant to pass from the boats to 

 shore; no wind, however, can ever blow so as to en- 

 danger the safety of the vessels at anchor.* 



This country is extremely healthy, except in the 

 vicinity of particular situations. From the little at- 

 tention of the police at Rio, and the stagnant waters 

 in its immediate vicinity, it is only surprising that it 

 has never been visited at least very seriously, by the 

 fevers which are so dreadful a calamity to other cities 

 situated in similar climates. No people in the world 

 enjoy better health than the inhabitants of the country. 

 The residents of the city appear to be, especially in 

 the lower classes, extremely lively, active, and cheer« 

 ful; but from the facilities of gaining a livelihood, and 

 the frequent occurrence of their holidays, the greater 

 part of their time is spent in amusements. Few beg- 

 gars are to be seen, and all except the wretched bru- 

 talized slaves, are decently clad. The streets swarm 

 with children; and in the country, according to Langs- 

 dorff, they are even more prolific than in the United 



*The Portuguese seventy-four parted her cable, which onlj 

 proved to us that she was miserably found. 



