XCI.

BOOK of the Uraponga 'resound through the forest, like the strokes of a hammer on an anvil. The toucan, (Anser Americanus) is prized for its feathers, which are of a lemon and bright red colour with transversal black stripes reaching to the extremities of its wings. The different species of humming birds are more numerous in Brazil than in any other country of America. One sort of these beautiful little birds is called by the people the Gnanthé engera, or winged flower. Naturalists have observed in the woods more than ten species of wild bees; the greater number produce honey of an aromatic flavour. If the inhabitants were more industrious, cochineal might be exported with profit, for the Cactus coccinellifer and the insect peculiar to it arc found in the province of St. Paulo.* Mr. Mawe observed on the coast of St. Catharine's, a species of murex that the natives call purpura; its shell is about the size of a nut, the dye is contained in a vesicle full of a pale yellow viscid substance, which on being exposed to the air, is changed into a rich crimson colour.

Depart

ments.

Brazil is divided into nine governments independent of each other; that of Rio Janeiro is the first in dignity and importance, it still retains the title of Viceroyalty, although the country can no longer be considered a colony of Portugal. The increase of population rendered it necessary to form ten secondary governments which were subject to the others; but the most populous of these governments are not at present subordinate to any of the rest.

These governments are called Capitanias or Captaincies by the Portuguese.

tical divi

The primate of Brazil holds the highest ecclesiastical Ecclesiasoffice in the state; the dignitaries next in order are the sions. bishops of Belem in Para, of Maranhao, of Olinda in Pernambuco, of Rio Janeiro, of San Paulo and of Mariana in Minas Geraes. The Prelacias of Goyazes and Cuyaba are dioceses without chapters, committed to the charge of the bishops. Although government has not expended much money on churches, its economy in this respect has been abundantly supplied by pious donations and legacies bequeathed for holy purposes.

Justice.

Two supreme courts or relacoes have been established Courts of for the administration of justice; the one at Bahia, the other at Rio Janeiro. Para, Maranhao, Pernambuco, Goyaz and Bahia are under the jurisdiction of the first; Rio Janeiro, Minas Geraes, Mattogrosso and San Paulo are subject to the last. The governors of Bahia and Rio Janeiro are ex officio presidents of the courts.

Brazil is also divided into the following twenty-four comarcas, in each of which there is an Ouvidor, whose decisions may be passed under review, and rescinded by the supreme tribunals.

* Seara and Paraiba are independent as to their jurisdiction, but under the authority of the military governor of Pernambuco.

Rio Negro is under the civil jurisdiction of Para, but independent of its military governor.

Captaincy of Rio Ja

Brazil.

Espirito-Santo.

Goyaz.

Jacobina.

Theos.

Maranhao.

We shall first give an account of the towns in the neiro. government of Rio Janeiro, in which the capital of the Capital of same name is situated. This city has been called Saint Sebastian by some writers, from the name of a fortress on a headland at no great distance from the town. The hills in the neighbourhood are adorned with houses, churches, or convents; and an excellent harbour, built on granite, is defended by the castle of Santa Cruz. The entrance of the bay that forms the harbour, is confined by several islands, on some of which, houses and wood yards have lately been built. This large and beautiful bay is a great ornament to the town; its calm and transparent waters reflect on all sides the images of steep rocks, thick forests, churches and houses.* The most remarkable public buildings in Rio Janeiro are the convents of St. Antonio and St. Theresa, the ancient College of the Jesuits and the church of Nossa Senhora da Gloria. The town is supplied with water by means of a splendid aqueduct; many labourers are employed in the rum and sugar works, or in preparing cochineal. The whole population, before the arrival of the prince, amounted to 50,000 souls, the greater number consisted of blacks and people of colour; at a later period, in the year 1817 the city and suburbs contained 110,000 inhabitants. This extraordinary afflux of Portuguese and other settlers must in a great measure be attributed to the residence of the court.

Although the town is well stored with provisions, their price is by no means proportionate to their great abun

Langstedt's Voyage.

BOOK

XCI.

dance. The low position of Rio Janeiro, as well as the uncleanliness of its streets, rendered it formerly unhealthy, and vessels loaded with negroes spread contagious disorders among the people; but these evils have been partly removed by the establishment of a more efficient police. This town is the place of the greatest trade in the kingdom, its situation is favourable for its commercial relations with Europe, Africa, the East Indies and the islands on the Great Ocean. It might become, under an enlightened administration, a general mart for the produce of the most distant countries. Its exports consist of cotton, sugar, rum and naval timber, gold, diamonds, topazes, and other precious stones. Those who maintain that the inhabitants are inactive, effeminate, without energy, patriotism or public spirit, appear to have forgotten that such defects in their character must be attributed to a bad government and to a colonial administration, which lasted for two hundred years. Rio Grande is the most southern captaincy in Captaincy Brazil; it is watered by many rivers, their banks are well of Rio wooded, and some of them are rich in gold. Coal pits are wrought in the neighbourhood of the chief town in this province; wolfrain, which has been found in considerable quantities, indicates the existence of tin. Numerous flocks of ostriches wander in the plains, and the forests abound with different kinds of game. The climate is so favourable to agriculture, and the soil is so productive, that, if a better system of farming were established, Rio Grande might soon become the granary of the whole kingdom.

Wheat is put into hides and sent to all the ports on the coast; but it is often in a state of fermentation before it reaches the more distant towns. The hemp formerly cultivated in this department by order of government, was said to be of the best quality, but from the high price of wages this branch of labour did not yield sufficient profit, and was for that reason abandoned. The vine grows in luxuriance, and it is likely that more attention will be paid to its cultivation, as the colonial restrictions are now removed. The chief occupation of the inhabitants consists in

Grande.

wwww

BOOK breeding cattle, for which the immense tracts of pasture XCI. in this district are well adapted. The people carry on a trade in tallow, dressed hides, and salted provisions. Capital of Rio Grande, the chief town in this captaincy, is well the district. fortified and defended by forts built on small islands.

St. Catharine.

The shallowness of the sea, the violence of its currents and a great many quicksands render the harbour dangerous for vessels that draw more than ten feet of water. On the other side of the bar there is a deep bay, where the largest ships may ride with safety.* The population on the banks of the river Rio Grande is greater than in any other part of the province: a circuit of twenty leagues is supposed to contain a hundred thousand inhabitants.

The country near the capital is surrounded by hills of sand and light earth, and it sometimes happens, during a strong wind, that the whole city is darkened by clouds of sand.

The scenery round the island St. Catharine is embellished by its steep and conical rocks, and the wood-covered mountains on the neighbouring continent. The island is separated from the mainland by a narrow strait, and interspersed with hills, dales and marshes.

The solstitial heats are tempered by refreshing breezes from the southwest and northeast; the latter continue from September to March, the former from April to August. St. Catharine was at one time covered with lofty trees, but the most of them have been cut down and used in ship-building.

The hills and rocks are composed of granite; but there is near the harbour a vein of green stone, passing from various states of decomposition into a fine red clay, from which different sorts of earthen ware are manufactured and exported to La Plata and Rio Janerio. Although the soil in the interior is humid, it is also very fertile, and an extraordinary profusion of flowers indicates a genial climate: the jessamine and the rose are in bloom throughout the year. The harbour is defended by two forts; and the popu