RIO DE JANEIRO. 



47 



ice was brought from Rio, to make ices and 

 to cool the wine. But the heat was worse 

 than in the city : as the woods prevented the 

 access of the breeze by day, and the hills under 

 which the house is built effectually shut out the 

 land breeze at night : so there was no relief 

 against being baked. It was too hot to stir out 

 in the day, beyond the sugar -baking scene. At 

 night we had quadrilles and music. The dress 

 of the negro women on this estate is very pic- 

 turesque. Madame de St. Amaro has, I am 

 told, imitated the costume of those negroes who 

 live at Bahia. It is decollete off one shoulder, 

 tight at the waist, and the head adorned by a 

 white turban, which adds a brilliancy to the black 

 eyes and shining skin underneath it. There 

 were two little spoilt negro children running 

 about the house in this costume, whose quality 

 of dress was of a more expensive kind, though 



