The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-11-12


RIO Ianclro, which port we intended to
uake.
Early the next morning the entrance
OF the harbor was recognised by the
land marks, to he directly ahead, about
10 miles, but towards morning, the wind
died away, an VIC were becalmcd Off the
harhor, until the afternoon of the ID of
May, so days from Boston. The ems
trance Of the harbor is about "a f a
mile in width, between two lofty nouns
tains, Signal Hill on the right, and Su-
gar Loaf on the left. The latter is said
to he 1899 feet high. These peaks Of
naked granite, present a striking cons
trnst with the rest of the broken ridges,
as every other prominent part is covered
with luxuriant vegetation.
There is beautiful and capacious
harbor, thirty miles in length, and from
three to fifteen in width. II is protected
by chain of mountains, rising from its
narrow mouth, and extending back one
above another. The view is certainly
pleasing aud txhilarating, and it is di-
versi6ed in many places, by cultivated
spots, even TO the highest elevation,
while the valleys beneath are filled with
the rich and rare fruits peculiar to the
tropics. The shores Of this large basin
are indented with numerous riyulcts, that
dash down the decivties Of the noun
tains. as if eager to mingle with the tram
quill waters of this great bay The for
tiiicaiions Of the harbor, the whole OF
which is commanded from within, by
works long since erected on nearly all of
the surrounding heights, and islands,
are now in ruins. The defence of the
place is thought to depend principally on
one very strong tort, situated on Snak c
Island, directly in front Of the city, al
though there is one Of considerable force
at the mouth of the harbor; We found
number Of Caifornians here. Among
the number wasthe Barque Splendid, OF
Boston, which sailed two days before we
did. Also the Brig Reindeer, Of Bell
fat, Me-, to which | shall hereafter re-
fer. The city Of Rio Janeiro, is hardly
worth description. was very much
disappointed in the place. in The place
of Palaces, Cathedrals, Churches, and
magnificent buildings, which expected
to see, nothing was to be seen, but little
two story houses, with small wooden bal
comic, in front Of the upper windows,
where the dark eyed Scnoras generally
present themselves in the cool hours OF
evening, The streets are narrow and
dirty. The stores are small and incon-
modious; bit generally pretty well sup
pIied VIII. English Goods, to which a
pretty round sum is AZ. .achcd. The place
wears dark and gloomy aspeC., to
traveller from the United States. Ofthc
character, manners and habits OF the
inhabitants, am not prepared to say
much. They are quite an indoIent peo-
pie, but hospitabe and polite. The
work is all performed by slaves, with
which the streets are filled; and unlike
our laborerS, they carry their burdens
on their heads, presenting quite a novel
appearance, as they wind their way a,
long, invariably singing. A more noisy,
and happy set of Blacks is seldom met
with. The Population is about 30O,-
900.
On arriving here we were much sad
dened by the news, that the ship fever
was raging here to an alarming extent.
From $50 to 200 had died daily, but very
fortunately for US, we did not arrive un>
til after it had abated in great measure.
Had we arrived here one week sooner,
probably not one Of us had been alive
now, SO fatal does it prove, when once
contracted on ship board. We dispatch.
ed all our business here, took in our wa
ter &c, as soon as possible, and
put TO sea on the slh; the Splendid
and Reindeer sailing on the 4lh We
pressed on all sail. intending if possible
to overlake and pass them, aud reach
Valparaiso first ; as we all intended tc
make that port. We had generally
pleasant weather and fair winds. DC,
OCCASIONALLY speaking a whale, unit
we made the Falkland Islands, on the
23d. A little girl was added to our al,
ready large number Of passengers, who
can boast Of being rocked in as large 4
cradle and by higher power than mos
of people; with rocking occasionally
that would astonlsh the fair sex, at home
think, 1t will be also seen thai our
company progressed. in more ways than
one.
To DE- CONCLUDED.
The Democratic Ticket.
lloEATGo SEYMouR.-No ticket has foi