34 



RIO DE JANEIRO. 



approached by a long avenue of mango -trees. 

 The situation is on a hill above the outskirts of 

 Rio, and close to Botafogo bay, a village sur- 

 rounded by good residences, and much in 

 fashion among the foreign residents. From 

 the windows of the room in which I write, I 

 can see every ship enter the harbour, and on 

 applying the telescope to a signal-post on a 

 hill, and referring afterwards to a printed 

 account of the code of signals, I can learn the 

 exact size and description of vessel. 



I have been to a ball at the Russian consul- 

 generaPs, where I was formally introduced to 

 all the diplomatic corps. If the head had not 

 been intolerable, the evening would have been 

 agreeable enough, as the best people at Rio were 

 collected there. Ices were served, being the first 

 introduction of that luxury into the Brazils, 

 in consequence of a cargo of ice from Boston. 



