On board Brig Geo Emery   South Atlantic
Ocean  Longitude      Latitude  23 21' South-
Sunday  March 4th  1849 {1849/03/04}

My Dear Mother,
    As I well know that you are the best friends I am blessed with, I indite my first epistle home, from foreign parts to you.  As we are now bound into Rio Janeiro which we expect to make in a few days, I write at this time as I shall feel a curiosity to obtain all the information and knowledge I can relating to the City, which I probably shall never again visit - For a short sketch of our voyage out thus far, I say that we have had an excellent time of it.  Harry Lester and myself have not been sick at all, but are the only exceptions on board, aside from the Old Seamen & I suspect that descendants of the venerable old Elder are exempt from this disagreeable affection - We left N. York on the 22nd Jan  as fine a day as I could wish to go to Sea on, had a gentle breeze down the bay, until we got off Sandy Hook, where out Pilot left us the winds freshened and we bore away on our course, S.E.- I must say that this feeling of homesickness which most are said to experience, when losing sight of their native land, I felt nothing of, but on the contrary quite the reverse, being in excellent spirits, and have enjoyed myself finely throughout the voyage thus far -  We took a gale of winds from the N.W. then two days out of N. York which lasted about 36 hours and carried us across the Gulf Stream in fine style - Our Captain tells me, he has rarely seen the seas run higher than they did at one time there but it is nothing to the accounts which you find in 5 out of 6 books which you read on the subject telling of seas Mountains high &c &c - To a person who can look calmly on without excitement in a gale of winds at sea, it is a magnificent sight, as the vessel

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is carried up on the top of this sea, and hurried down into the trough of the next, dancing as it were, "like a thing of life" with the waves combing up, and breaking in joyous glee around you- it is to me interesting and beautiful (i.e. in a tight ship) - To continue - We ran down with that gale, until we struck the N.E. Trades, in 23 N. which we ran down to 3 N where we took light winds to the Equator, which we crossed in 26 days from N. Y. less than an average passage by 12 days - Here we were becalmed with very light breezes for three days, until we had worked into about 2 30' S. when we took the S.E. Trades which were quite fresh, and ran them down to about 19 South, when we took variable winds which have run us down into our present Latitude a little South of Rio, so that we are now standing Northward and Westward, as we have about 2 30' Longitude to make - Incidents of the voyage are not numerous - When 2 days out, we spoke, Bark John Mung from Liverpool bound to Boston, with 135 emigrant passengers on board.  The Captain told us, they had been on short 
allowance 30 days, and had nothing to eat for three - We furnished them some Beef,  Bread & Sugar and filled away on our course - We have seen 2 Whales playing about, caught two dolphins and lots of flying fish.  While becalmed on the Equator we (five of us, Lester & myself of the number) lowered the Boat and rowed away from the ship for exercise.  You have no idea what a profound, almost oppressive stillness reigns around, when out at sea, in an open boat in a calm - We looked away and saw our brig lolled lazily by the long swell, and all around us could see nothing else except the long surging swells, unbroken by a ripple save when now & then a flying fish would skim out of the water with some of his enemies after him - Soon after we returned on board we thought of bathing when some one espied a sharks fin moving slowly through the water and then disappearing -

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We baited a hook with some beef and threw overboard, which soon called him up again, and he unwisely taking hold we hauled him on board - He measured from tip to tip between 6 & 7 feet and we concluded it was best for us to keep out of the water with this notice, unless we had arms & legs to spare - Our living on board is excellent, I think I never fared better.  We have Saturday nights, or rather I should say we have Baked Beans twice a week, better than which I never ate anywhere except at home.  Fish once a week & Roast Duck & Chickens in abundance with the etceteras of apple pies, puddings, Duff &c &c  The greatest difficulty is that our steward has not been seen to wash his hands since we have been out, however I suppose he cleans them with his dough, and as we all must eat a peck of dirt why not as well make it a bushel & done with it.  Our Cook is an excellent old fellow though, rather darker than Sophy, though perhaps his sailing in the tropics may have tanned him, I am quite positive it has me, I think I never have been as dark before, but this tropical weather at sea with a fine breeze is delightful - I have witnessed some scenes, as Sun Sets & Sun Risings which were beautiful in the extreme, the horizon being edged with light clouds, which the rising or setting sun edged with gold and colored with a variety of tints - We have an excellent library on board, consisting of a large number of the S.S. Library's publications.  Shakespeares', Milton's, Burns', Scott's Byron's, Tasso's & Moore's poetry, besides many interesting works of fiction and science - I shall expect to write home as opportunities offer, and also to hear in regard to the minutia of family matters at home - Believe me though far away, I take a great interest in home affairs, and nothing will fail to interest me.  I may be wrong in leaving home at this time, but I never felt better in my life, than on this voyage, and am so far convinced that I am right, that were I placed back, I should go in the face of all opposition.  It is not that I expect to meet no hardships, but let every man bear his part, & if there is a field opened in which enterprising men may do well why should I not step in, as

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well as others - As there is a vessel to leave this port for N.Y. tomorrow morning I hasten to close -  We are now in Rio De Janeiro harbor have been boarded by the Custom House and Health officers and we are now at liberty to go ashore, which we shall probably do after dinner - The land sharks (as they are called on board) have been aboard of us thick & fast this morning soliciting custom - One of them brought a fine bunch of Banana's and a basket of Oranges, some Cucumbers & other fixings which we are eating with a relish - The first thing the Officers say almost when they board us, is bound to California I suppose - There are some 8 or 10 California bound vessels now in this port and more in the offing - The scenery around Rio is mountainous, romantic & picturesque.  The town is surrounded by forts, and looks quite pleasant from our anchorage - March 9th {1849/03/09}  We were boarded by the Custom House Officer at about 9 A.M. today, & after dinner lowered away the boat, and went on shore.  We found plenty of  Yankee's to welcome us, all California bound, & as we stroll through the streets the Natives now and then exclaim Cal-a-fau-nia - March 11th {1849/03/11} This morning we went on shore early, found a guide who spoke English, hired some horses and away for a ride to the Botanical Gardens - They are situated about 7 miles from the City, and belong to the Emperor - There are about 50 slaves constantly employed in attending the garden, one of whom is obliged to attend visitors as they roam through its Groves - It is really  delightful spot, I should think 1/2 mile square beautifully & regularly laid out in squares and parallelograms - Here are found every variety of tropical fruit, plant & flower, splendid Hedges, beautiful arbors, lofty trees &c &c Among other things we saw coffee, tea, bread-fruit, banana's, Oranges lemons, lime, peaches, cocoa nuts, dates & tamarind's growing - We partook of a Brazilian dinner at a Hotel near the Garden; we had for a bill of fare Beef-Steak, Ham & Eggs, & Chickens, with beautiful Oranges just

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picked from the tree for dinner & set on the table with preserved Citron, Guava Jelly  & the celebrated Rio Coffee for dessert.  We dined at 4 o'clock P.M. and rode back to the City, well pleased with our days excursion - On our way back we overtook an Omnibus loaded with California boys, which we escorted to the American Consul's house where we gave, "Long life to himself & family" with three times three cheers, which his Lady came out on the balcony & thanked us for & we rode away to town - The people here are both polite and pleasant, if you touch your hat to an Officer he returns the salute - I have been in two churches; they are quite brilliant & gaudy profusely ornamented with gold Images &c - More Anon - please write particularly in regard to matters at home - Henry Lister sends regards-
     Your Affectionate Son,
       Benj'n Brewster

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