10 



Prince Maximilian's 



are frequently seen driving about the city. The streets for the 

 most part cross each other at right angles, and the houses are in 

 general only of one or two stories high. The town, however, con- 

 tains many good buildings, particularly near the harbour, in the 

 Rua direita, and in the vicinity of the royal palace, which, though^ 

 not a remarkably fine edifice in itself, is finely situated, and com- 

 mands a beautiful view of the sea. Among thefinegt buildings at 

 Rio de J aneiro, may be reckoned the numerous churches, the in- 

 teriors of which are for the most part splendidly ornamented. 

 Ecclesiastical festivals and processions are very frequent here, and 

 on such occasions fire-works are displayed before the church 

 doors, accompanied by the reports of guns and sky-rockets. 



Rio contains a tolerably good opera-house, where Italian ope- 

 ras and French ballets are performed. The aqueduct is an im- 

 portant public work, and there is a beautiful promenade leading 

 to the eminence from which the aqueduct descends. On the side 

 next the land the city is surrounded by marshes overgrown by 

 mango trees, ( rhizophora,) The proximity of these marshes, 

 togetner with the unfavourable situation of the city itself, must be 

 highly injurious to the health of the inhabitants. 



A European, on ^first landing in these tropical regions, is as- 

 tonished at the beauty of the natural scenery and the luxuri- 

 ance of vegetation. The gardens are every where shaded by 

 gigantic mango trees, (mangifera indica. Linn.) cocoa treeSs>, 

 banana trees, ( musa,) green orange trees loaded with golden 

 fruit, melon trees, (karica,) the rich scarlet-blossomea eti/- 

 thrina^ &c. Groves of these trees form delightful prome- 

 nades in the vicinity of the city, and present to the admiration 

 of the stranger multitudes of curious oirds and butterflies. In 

 Brazil nature has hitherto dorje more than man. Since the court 

 has resided here, the country has, however, undergone great im- 

 provements, particularly with respect to the increase of trade, over 

 which, unfortunately, Great Britain possesses too powerful an in- 

 fluence : for even the Portuguese ships are subject to heavier im- 

 posts than the British. The capital has derived vast benefit from 

 the increased circulation of money, to which, of course, the pre- 

 sence of the court in no small degree contributes. The foreigners 

 attached to the different European embassies, have also introduced 

 a decree of refinement among the inhabitants. There are also in 

 Bra:öil European artists and mechanics of every class, and in a few 

 years nothing will be wanting that can contribute to the comforts 

 of life. 



The abundance of fruits and vegetation of every kind which 

 this fertile climate produces is almost inconceivable. Oranges, 

 mangos, figs, grapes, guayavas, (psidium pi/riferum, Linn.) pine 

 apples, (bromelia ananas. Linn.) grow in singular perfection. There 

 aie several varieties of bananas, particularly those of St. Tornc^ 



