( 97 ) 



CHAP. VII. 



Description of Rio de Janeiro. — Trade. — State of Society. — Visit to 

 the Prince Regent's Farm at Santa Cruz. 



IJ lO DE JANEIRO has been so often described by former tra- 

 vellers, that, were I to confine myself to the supply of what they 

 have omitted, or to the correction of their mis-statements, my task 

 would be speedily performed, but, as I have uniformly chosen to 

 write freely from my own observations rather than follow the track of 

 others, I shall trespass on the reader with a more detailed account 

 than he might perhaps require. It will, however, be recollected that 

 the period at which I visited this capital being a political aera in the 

 annals of Brazil, is sufficiently interesting to excuse if not to justify 

 me in the attempt to improve upon descriptions of an earlier date, 

 though at the risk of a little repetition. 



The finest view of the city is from the harbour, whence its lofty 

 eminences crowned with convents, and the hills in its environs, inter- 

 spersed with villas and gardens, have a rich and magnificent appear- 

 ance. The royal palace skirts the beach, and is seen to great ad- 

 vantage from the principal landing-place, which is within sixty yards 

 of its doors. This palace, though small, is the residence of the 

 Prince Regent and the royal family : the mint and the royal chapel 

 form parts of the structure. Parallel with the beach runs the main 

 street, consisting of noble buildings, called Rua de Dereito, from 

 which the minor streets branch off at right angles, and are intersected 

 by others at regular distances. 



Some idea of the extent of the city may be formed from the po- 

 puhitioiij which, including the negroes, (its most numerous portion,) 



o 



