INHABITANTS OF THE CAPITAL. 
15 
Tlie capital of Brazil has been so often described, 
that, having abeady sketched the surronnding 
scenery, I do not care to dwell uj)on its details. 
I may, however, briefly mention a few of its more 
prominent features. Viewed as a whole, it seems to 
consist of a huge mass of shabby buildings thrown 
together without any taste or design. Although 
situated on marshy ground, and usually enveloped 
in an atmosphere of fever-breeding miasmata, it yet 
possesses the advantage of overlooking the splendid 
bay, and of having in its front, on the opposite side, 
the ‘‘ Sierra dos Orgaos,” those Organ Mountains so 
often and so justly lauded, and whose sides, as I 
gazed on them, were clothed with the glories of a 
golden sunset. 
The people who inhabit this unsavoury capital 
are an indolent race, and are principally made up of 
“ half-breeds.” The pure Negro seems to be the 
most cheerful and industrious of the lot. The in- 
habitants vary in colour from black to white, or 
more strictly speaking to whitey-brown. You will 
see in the narrow dirty streets, darkened by the 
