American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-22
SOUTH AMERICAN CORRESPONDENCE.
RIO DE JANEIRo, February G, /,

HOCIh RMERstAN CORRESPONDENTS.
RIO De JASERo, February G, l545.
Some author has remarked that there are few
delights more heartfelt and genuine than going
on shore after heightened sea voyage; an DER
true remark. 1t matters not how pleasantly
your time may have passed on board, if is
uxury that can be only appreciated by those
who have experienced it; and though do not
agree with DR.. Johnson, that ship IS nothing
more than 4 prison. nor share the opinion of the
old salt who could see no use for land but that
Of growing vegetables, yet confess that de-
Hghtful sensations sprung up within me when
~ foot again pressed terra frma, The feelings
tSme experiences on first landing in foreign
ountry, amidst crowds totally strangers to you;
aYho speak different language; who nave no
Iympathies in common; are most strange and
.onusing. So lost and helpless, so totally use
Tess does a man feel himself, that ones pride re
ceiyes a severe check.
=" The city Of Rio de Janero, which, except the
ntral portion, is built in struggling manner,
p, - at the very foot of the high lands already
,iNGhtionod a part Of the space which it occu-
rs having been cut from them. 1t follows
the sinuosities and skirts the waters edge; and
ne streets, narrow and of great length, inter
ect each other at right angles, save in q few
instances. The buildings are generally three
stories in heigth built of stone in the most
Substantial manner, coored as fancy may die
tate, white being the most predominant hue;
the government Offices Of all kinds are invari-
n ably of yellow cast. Granite is profusely
'sed, and every precaution taken to avoid fires,
s4llch species of calamity is almost unknown
-, the Brazs; and the mode Of building would
'2rve as an example, to be initiated by some
master builders that wot of, so far as durabi-
Htv in .eir construction is concerned, though
sttle favorable could be uttered respecting the
wanner (speed being out of the question: III
+Hhich they execute their task. have seen no
Az tess than 26 strong, athletic negroes engaged,
it'll the aid Of good and sufficient apparatus,
,osting a single block of granite that could
= n, ave much exceeded ton in weight AS
i, u. ali equivalent for the weakness of their 81
&c pD@s, they made most ample reparation with
Up ter lungs; their voices might easily have been
.tard for a mile; in fact, one chap of the gang
,7pcupied himself entirely in chanting the solo
's'art Of the song, the Others joining in the bur-
On. These slaves cannot perform any labor
thout snging-no song, no workee- md by
instantly laboIing in masses, repeating daily
same ditties Joined to the excellent natural
I'ical abilities they possess, it is both pleas
ing and wonderful to listen to them. There is
always to be heard multitude, if not con-
Noord of sweet sounds, in and around the consul
= 2, trapches, etc, that is perfectly bewilder-
is very general impression in our Gland
OF LIE Free" (hem!) when speaking of the in
habants of South America, or indeed of any
topical cline, to imagin them clad in loose
and flowing robes, wearing garments of light
texture and still lighter color, with the over
shadowng brim of huge Guyaquil or Pana-
ma sombrero decorating their occputs-a mode
,F hat, 10
tending in some measure towards mitigating
the farvid rays of ths~sun in verify, all those
bsngnant and amiabe gentlemen whose phi.
l@nthropy leads them to multiply histories,
give descriptions, and compile geographical
statements, &c., for the sole use and benefit o!
the growing generation, adjoining their lucu-
bratioDs with wooden cuts explanatory of the
strange habits and outre customs, deserts wild,
vast buildings, costumes, etc., are wont TO pre-
sent us Brazilian in tins same guise, lot OF
half naked negroes busly engaged in a sugar
cane field, generally forming the back ground
of the picture as like the reality as Hyperion
to Saiyr. No one here of high, and but few
of low degree, ever dreams of sporting straw
hat Of any kind, quality or description; and as
for those habiliments termed light and season.
able, "there's no such thing" In lieu OF
grass cloth and white linen, you encounter
dark vsaged Seniors clad in black cloth coats,
black vests, black hats, yea, nothing but black
to the end of the chapter he who has the eff
ffontery to don any other colored garments,
losing caste thereby; forsook, cast off, by the
wealthy curled darllngs of this enlightened
an accomplished people; a stranger scarcely
be 8 allowed to visit the opera should he not
be clad in full dress of sombre black. There
il in all this, | presume, a spice of the old
dam uppermost-a dash of that same aristo-
nj ratlc feeling--of that warfare against the be-
tests of Dame Nature-that wish of being
distinguished for something strange to the vul-
. ariherd, so observable in petty minds, all the
, 0qid over; the same feeling that actuates the
y n Aonable world of modern Babylon, TO boast
;'never spending winter in London, or a
, a iner out of it," The miserable slaves ne
- ao,7ear black, white or colored cotton cloth
Wis 5g almost universal: it follows that the for
lis the badge of honor, as distinguishing a
M, one may suppose, as the tcga of days
~, y passed. In any event, however, nothing
more repulsive to the eye, and it may be
opposed the murderer of anything like com.
IN tt:rto note fat and pursy official (of whom
: e is any supposable number) waddlng
! ~ & and sweltering under the fervid rays o.
;, e. entical sun, in all the luxury of the winter
fashions and costumes of northern Chimes
"a aRhew! Truly do they swear strange suits, ant
disable all the benefits of their own countrv.n
4''The streets are badly paved, the sidewalk.
iEsgged, but not elevated above the ordinary le
rat I ofthe street itself, the sewers in the centre
'c ley are tolerably clearly, owing to the fac
At but few vehicles and animals pass through