1848.] 
ENVIRONS OE PARA. 
7 
and plastered over. The windows, which have no glass, 
have the lower part filled with lattice, hung above, so 
that the bottom may be pushed out and a peep ob- 
tained sideways in either direction, and from these many 
dark eyes glanced at us as we passed. Yellow and blue 
wash are liberally used about most of the houses and 
churches in decorating the pilasters and door and window 
openings, which are in a debased but picturesque style 
of Roman architecture. The building now used as 
custom-house and barracks, formerly a convent, is hand- 
some and very extensive. 
Beyond the actual streets of the city is a large extent 
of ground covered with roads and lanes intersecting each 
other at right angles. In the spaces formed by these 
are the “ rosinhas,'’ or country-houses, one, two, or more 
on each block. They are of one story, with several spa- 
cious rooms and a large verandah, which is generally the 
dining-room and most pleasant sitting and working 
apartment. The ground attached is usually a swamp or 
a wilderness of weeds or fruit-trees. Sometimes a por- 
tion is formed into a flpwer-garden, but seldom with 
much care or taste, and the plants and flowers of Europe 
are preferred to the splendid and ornamental productions 
of the country. The general impression of the city to a 
person fresh from England is not very favourable. There 
is such a want of neatness and order, such an appearance 
of neglect and decay, such evidences of apathy and in- 
dolence, as to be at first absolutely painful. But this 
soon wears off, and some of these peculiarities are seen 
to be dependent on the climate. The large and lofty 
rooms, with boarded floors and scanty furniture, and 
