Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-08-05
The City of Para in Brazil.

Mr. Warren, in his recently published work Para :or Scenes and Adventures on the Banks of the Amazon" gives the following lively sketch of his first impressions OF entering the city of Para The city is situated on the southern branch of the Amazon, and is the capital of the ProyinceT of Para, the largest and most fertile portion of the magnificent Empire of Brazil:
 "rhe general aspect of the place, with its low and venerable looking buildings of solid-stone it's massive churches and moss grown rilnis, us red tlied roofs and dingy- white walls, the beautiful trees oi it's gardens, and groups of tall banana plants peepng up here and there among the houses constituted certainly scene of novelty, fl not of elegance aad beauty.
 The first spectabie which arrested our atten- ton on landing, was that of q number of persons of both sexes and all ages bathing irdiscrImnateiy
 together in the waters of the rver in state of en- tYe nudity. We observed among them several finely formed Indian girls of exceeding beauty, dashing about in the water like troop of happy mermalds. The heat of the sun was so intense, that We ouRSeiyes were almost tempted to seek lief from Us overpowerlng influence by piunging preciplLateiy amid the joyous throng of swimmers. But we foTbore
 The natives of Para are very eleanly, and iA- dHge in daily ablutions; nor do they eonfne their baths io the dusky hours of evening, but may be seaa-s swimming about the public wkarves al all hours oi the day. The Government has made several feeble efforts to put restraint upon these pubic exposures; bat al the tune Oi our departure all rules and regulations on the subject were to- tally dSTegarded by the natives. The city IS laid out with considerable taste and regularity; but the streets aFe very narrow, and miserably paved with large and uneven stones.
 The buildings generally are but of one story m height, and are, with few exceptions. entirely destitute of glass windows klnd of lattlced blind sS substituted, which IS So Constructed that Ii af lords the person within opportunity of seeing whatever takes piac1sIn the street without being observed n retaEn. Fms lattice opens towards the steel. and thus affords gseat facilities to ihe bcaux and gentlemen of gallantEyg who by step plng under this covering, can have an agreeable fete with their fair miStresses IN secretly as | they were in a trilised aThos together.
 We noticed several strange spectacles as we slowly walked through the city. Vendors of fruit with huge baskets on their heads, filled with luscious oranges, bananas, mRngoeS, ptneapples, and other choice fruits of the tropics; groups of blacks carrying immense burdens n the same man ner; inyalids reclining 10 theiE hammoeks, ladles riding in then gay-eoyered palanquinS. supported on Inen's shoulders; and water -carfiers moving along by the side of their heavily landen horses or mules.
 Finally, we met with party of some thirty or forty blacks, each one of them bearing large has ket of tapioea on his head. They were perfectly naked to the waist and wore only pair of panta- looms of very eoarse material They marched aa. al q slow and measured pace chanting al the same tune a s.agalaFly monct0aoas ar, to winch they beat time with thslr hands p