n 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Smith America. 



on which the City of St. Salvador is built, lo the E. The anchorage is 

 abreast of the City, in 8 to 12 fathoms, a mile or a mile and a half distant. 

 On the extremity of the peninsula is a light-house. The bay is capacious, 

 and a great number of ships may ride in it secure from all winds. 



The City is on the right-hand side of the bay, in latitude 12° 4-6" S;, 

 longitude 3S° 40 W., and was formerly the capital of Brazil, though now 

 subordinate to Rio de Janeiro. The upper town is built on the summit of 

 a steep hill ; the lower is situated at the bottom of the bill, and parallel to 

 the beach. They are connected by streets running slantwise up the emi- 

 nence. The people of business reside in the lower town. In the middle 

 of the town is the great square. The streets are confined, badly paved, 

 and dirty. 



St. Salvador is well defended. Fort Mar stands on a small rocky bank, 

 of the inner bay, about three-quarters of a mile from the shore, and is used 

 as a magazine : all vessels, except of war, must land their powder on arri- 

 ving in the bay. The Dockyard is defended by Fort St. Philip, and the 

 inhabited part of the beach by several batteries. Extensive fortifications 

 protect the land-side. The City is computed to contain about 30,000 whites, 

 30,000 mulattoes, and 40,000 negroes. 



At the lower town, near the beach, stand the custom-house and wharfs, 

 royal dockyard, arsenal, marine storehouse, magazines, and residence of 

 the Intendant The dockyard admits the building of but one ship of the 

 line at a time. In the private yards at Tagapippe, ships of all dimensions 

 are built with the greatest dispatch. The timber is good ; labour and ma- 

 terials are cheaper than at Rio de Janeiro. The English have the privilege, 

 by treaty, of obtaining timber, and constructing or repairing ships of war, 

 in any harbour of the Portuguese dominions. 



The accommodations at St. Salvador are miserable. There is no inn ; 

 a house must be taken and furnished for a temporary residence on shore. 



Trade.— The coasting trade is very considerable. The exports are 

 cotton (the chief article), received from the neighbourhood, and sorted, 

 weighed, and baled; sugar, tobacco, drugs, &c. The foreign trade has much 

 increased since the separation from tlie mother country ; but commerce is by 

 no means in a settled state. 



Port Regulations and Charges,— Officers visit every merchant 

 vessel on its arrival, to prevent illicit trade. The charges formerly were 

 very heavy ; they are now reduced, but they cannot be accurately stated. 



The charges for caulkers from the shore were as follow : — master- 

 workman 1200 rcas per day; first assistant, working high up, 800; when 

 low down, 1400 ; second assistant, 500 and 1000. 



