90 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
Todos Santos lies immediately in front, with the 
fine town stretching away on its eastern side. The 
bay is full of shipping, and extends for over 20 miles 
northward. There are several islands at its head, 
and sundry rivers run into its waters. Later in the 
day we anchored off the Public Gardens, from which 
point a capital view of the city is to be had. It con- 
sists of a higher and lower town. The higher por- 
tion includes the suburbs of Victoria and Bomfra, 
and has several fine streets and stately houses, where 
the officials and principal merchants reside. The 
lower portion is devoted to commerce, and contains 
shops and warehouses for the sale of inland produce 
and foreign goods. There is a Naval Arsenal, but 
apparently of very little pretensions to size or utility. 
The public buildings are of no importance, except 
the cathedral, which is built of marble, and is said to 
be the handsomest of its kind in Brazil. 
During our fourteen days’ stay here, numerous ex- 
cursions were made both by rail and river, for 
through the courtesy of the directors of the respective 
companies free tickets were placed at the disposal of 
the officers. This afforded special opportunities for 
seeing the country for some miles’ radius. A short 
distance beyond the city the land for miles appears 
to be covered with forests of charming trees, of all 
shapes, sizes, and unknown names ; while nestling 
around their green borders are plantations and little 
farms, giving the scene a most picturesque effect. 
