1% RIO DE JANEIROc 
CHAP. IV. ' 
RIO DE JANEIRO. 
Singular Entrance into, and Description of, the magnificent Harbour of Rio de 
"Janeiro — The City of St. Sebastian — The Aqueduct — The public Gardens — 
Streets and Shops of St. Sebastian — Jealous Conduct of the Portugueze — 
Climate and troublesome Insects — Indolence and improper Conduct of the Priest- 
hood — Singular Custom of the Ladies of Rio — Of those of the Convent of 
Santa Clara — Of the Ladies of Liverpool — Dress and Character — Reli- 
gious Ceremonies and Processions — Neglected State of the Country in the 
Neighbourhood of the Captal. 
TThe island of St. Jago, in the miserable state in which we 
found it in the year 1792, affording little else than a few fruits 
and a scanty supply of muddy water, held out no induce- 
ment for the prolonging of our stay beyond the time that was 
absolutely necessary to prepare for the continuance of the 
voj^age. Accordingly we weighed anchor on the 7th of Oc- 
tober and, stretching to the south-westward with a brisk 
trade wind, just skirted the southern limit of the Mar do Sar- 
gasso (or sea of sea-weeds) of the Portugueze, sometimes 
called the Grassy Sea. We now saw only a few scattered 
plants ; but on the return voyage, by keeping farther to the 
westward, the surface of the sea for several days was literally 
covered with them, lire extent of this surface varies accord- 
