the public gardens, built by the late
Vice Roy, and laid out with much taste and expence. All the extremity of
the garden is a fine terrace which commands a view of the water, and is
frequented by people of fashion, as their Grand Mall: at each end of the
terrace there is an octagonal built room, superbly furnished, where
merendas[96-1] are sometimes given. On the pannels are painted the
various productions and commerce of South America, representing the
diamond fishery, the process of the indigo trade. The rice grounds and
harvest, sugar plantation, South Sea whale fishery, &c. these were
interspersed with views of the country, and the quadrupedes that inhabit
those parts. The ceilings contained all the variety, the one of the fish,
the other of the fowl of that continent. The copartments of the ceiling
of the one room was enriched in shell work, with all the variegated
shells of that country, and in the copartments are delineated all the
variety of fish that the coast of South America produces. The other
copartment is enriched with feathers and so inimitably blended as to
produce the happiest effect. In this ceiling is painted all the birds
and fowls of the country, in all their splendid elegance of plumage. The
sofas and furniture are rich in the extreme: and in this elegant recess,
an idle traveller may have an agreeable lounge, and at one view
comprehend the whole natural history of this vast continent. In the
centre of the terrace there is a Jet d'eau, in form of a large palm-tree,
made of copper, which at pleasure may be made to spout water from the
extremity of all the leaves. This tree stands on a well disposed grotto,
which rises from the gravel walk below to the level of the terrace, and
terminates the view of the principal walk. Near the foot of the grotto
two large aligators, made of copper, are continually discharging water
into a handsome bason of white marble, filled with gold and silver
fishes.

There are fine orangeries, and lofty covered arbours in different parts
of the garden, capable of containing a thousand people. Here the cyprian
nymphs hold their nocturnal revels; but intrigue is attended with great
danger, as the stilletto is in general use, and assassination frequent,
the men being of a jealous sanguinary turn, and the women fond of
gallantry, who never appear in public unveiled. When Bougainville, the
French circumnavigator called here, his chaplain was assassinated in an
affray of that kin