1831.] 
RIO DE JANEIRO. 
41 
rank and merchants of affluence, we might appropriately apply 
part of the epitaph of Lord Lyttleton — 
" Gayly I lived, as ease and nature taught, 
And spent my little life without a thought." 
With them, sleeping, eating, and heartless ceremonies, consume 
the four-and-twenty hours ; the same dull and unprofitable routine 
alternately succeeding with each revolving day, without variety 
and without pleasu.re. The unnatural restraint and undue se- 
clusion imposed upon the fair sex, render the ebullitions of their 
heartfelt vivacity, when suffered to mingle with society, more 
conspicuous and more fascinating. But even in their public 
amusements, of which there are not many, the ladies seem to be 
watched with a jealous care, by husbands, fathers, or brothers ; 
but when they venture to steal a glance at a stranger, their elo- 
quent black eyes speak volumes of interesting matter. There is 
a theatre and an opera-house here ; but we witnessed the per- 
formance of neither. The former, it is said, droops from a 
paucity of talent ; and the latter, though more worthy of it, meets 
with but little encouragement. Concerts and balls occur occa- 
sionally, but the climate is not favourable to dancing. The Passeo 
Publico is frequented in the evening by small parties, to enjoy the 
promenade, the music, and the fireworks. But there can be but 
little taste for rational amusements among a people proverbially^ 
indolent, superstitious, and jealous of each other. 
The Passeo Publico affords a pleasant promenade, and contains 
many native plants and flowers of exquisite beauty. At the lower 
end of this garden is a broad terrace walk, from which the com- 
pany have a delightful view of the bay and its rising shores, 
which are everywhere fringed with coppices. On looking south 
a little promontory is seen projecting into the water, on the castel- 
lated brow of which stands a monastery, and immediately beyond 
it an arm of the harbour, extending westwardly into the land. On 
extending the view further south, the beautiful eminence of 
Flamingo appears, covered with verdure ; beyond which is another 
hill, on the declivity of which stands a religious edifice, called 
Gloria Church, and in the extreme distance are seen the Sugar- 
loaf and Signal Hill, lifting their aspiring heads to the clouds, ancj. 
