met my eyes, as one bright afternoon
we glided through a narrow entrance into its superb harbour. We
appeared to be sailing up a large lake, extending as far inland as the
eye could reach, and surrounded with lofty mountains of many different
and picturesque shapes. On either side were walls of granite, rising
sheer out of the water to a height of nearly 2000 feet, while behind
them rose the vast Sugar-loaf Mountain, and a number of other lofty and
barren peaks towering up clear and defined against the blue sky. Like
mighty giants they surround the harbour, the ground at their bases
sloping towards the water, and sprinkled with pretty villages, and
quintas, and orange-groves, and covered with the most luxuriant
vegetation. A picturesque fort guards the entrance to the bay. Passing
it, after sailing about four miles, we dropped our anchor among a crowd
of vessels carrying the ensigns of nearly all the civilised nations of
the world, before the city of Rio, which, built on a flat extending two
miles from the hills, appeared on our left hand. As our stay was to be
short, the captain allowed Gerard and me to accompany the doctor on
shore at once. He himself went with us, and introduced us to a
merchant, who kindly undertook to show us about the place.

"There, go and see all you can, and give me an account of what you have
seen when you return on board," were his parting words.

Rio, with its superb harbour, as seen from the heights above it, is a
picturesque city, as I think the drawing I brought home and now give
will prove. It is built upon piles--that is, the lower part--and as the
drainage is bad, it is at times very unhealthy. On landing, we found
ourselves on a large open space with a palace before us, and a fountain
in front of it. Before the palace stood two negro soldiers as a guard.
The army, our friend told us, is composed chiefly of negroes, who make
very good soldiers; and the navy is manned by them. Acting with
Englishmen, many of whom are in the Brazilian navy, they are as bravo
and trustworthy as any men to be found. Off the square branched a
number of narrow streets. As the climate is so hot, all the streets are
made narrow, that they may be kept as much as possible in shade. The
houses are mostly of good size, and the walls are very thick; they thus
keep out the heat of the sun. The churches are also substantially
built, and decorated in a very florid style--the interiors being tawdry
in