8 
The splendor of the churches, the pompous ceremonies of the 
Romish worship, the various dresses of the monks and nuns, and 
the beauty of the gardens at their convents, were all attractive. I 
could enlarge on these subjects, as also on the variety of the 
animal and vegetable productions, which fill many pages in my 
manuscript volumes; but as I am endeavouring to condense them 
as much as possible, I shall only further observe, that the coast 
abounds with excellent fish of different kinds; a profusion of fruit 
and vegetables supplies the public markets, and the numerous ves- 
sels which are constantly arriving in this noble harbour; beef, 
mutton, pork, and different kinds of poultry, are also plentiful, and 
at a moderate price. 
The native Brazilians are seldom to be seen at Rio de Janeiro; 
the few who yet remain live at a distance from the Portugueze 
settlements; and their manners and customs are little known. 
Neither could I obtain much information about the gold and 
diamond mines, for which Brazil is celebrated; they are in the 
interior mountains, far from the capital; and the roads are strictly 
guarded to prevent all communication. The jewellers shops at 
St. Sebastian’s make a grand display of diamonds, topazes, ame- 
thysts, and other precious stones, brought from the mines; a 
great deal of gold dust is found in the beds of brooks and torrents 
near the mountains, and eagerly sought for, especially after heavy 
rains ; by means of which a few of the poor African slaves have 
purchased their liberty, and become masters of a little plantation, 
where they enjoy the sweets of freedom. 
We left Rio de Janeiro on the 12th of October, for the Cape 
of Good Hope; and about the end of the month saw Tristan de 
