New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-06
SOUTH AMERICA.
Sketches or Nature, Society, Trade and oil
ties In Brazil and Chill.


tine commanded by Capt. VIM. J. Watts Of
Bsltimore) in which took passage from Val
paraiso, in order to avoid detention OF sever~
weeks at Panama. i am in the midst OF 'ne
Pacific ocean and from this prison of waters you
win hardly expect to receive important 'ldlne'
from me- But find that in my letters from MO
Janeiro and Valparaiso there were some matters
of interest, to which. account OF extreme naste'
7 did not aIlude a. all. Indeed, the intelligent
vovaeer TO South America will always find sub
.ec.. worthy of his attention and study, which
cannot be noticed in the columns OF newspaper
SOUTH AMERICAN RUINS.
In al the cities Of that country we discover
signs of past splendor and present poverty. No
where is the appearance of decay so striking as
IN the ruins Of ancient buildings Magnificent
churches, whose vaulted roofs have echoed to the
fearful Dies iyae, and whose neighboring ceme'
teries teen with the carcases of illustrious dead,
are crumbling into gloomy ruins, carrying with
them the recollection and the knowledge of their
sublime architecture.
A glorious remnant Of the Gothic pile
While yet the Church was Rome ~ stood half apart
In grand arch which once screened many an asia
wilhn niche nigh to its pinnacle, .,.,,n
Twelve Saints had once stood sancti6ed in stone"
~But in higher niche, alone, but crown'd,
The Virgin mother Of the GodeG 9 child 1,n,dr
With her Son IN her blessd arms looked rouno"
"a mighty window, hollow in the center,
Shom Of ne glass OF thousand coorings,
Through which the 9eepend glores once could enter,
Streaming from off the sun-like seraphs wings,
Nov yswns all desolste: now loud, now fainter,
Thegale sweeps through iis fretwork, and on SINCE
The owl his anthem, where the silenced choir
Lie with their hallehjahs quenchd like FIRE"
Nor are the relics of regal palaces and Francis.
can converts wanting to make up the picture.
They loom up from the midst Of deserted plains,
grand even in their decay. They carry us back
no Imagination to those stirring times when the
royal court of Portugal, of which the Brszils were
then colony, migrated to the New World, and
planted its Scepter upon the SUBMITS Of the gigan-
tic Andes They teach US that human works are
perishable shadows, dust in the nostrs of the
Omnipotent.
THE sPANIsH-AMERICAN RACE.
The destiny of the country seems to be semi.
bsrbarism--else why is it that with equal facili-
ties, they are so far behind the English racer
Why is it that people possessing one of the
most favored countries on the globe, are so de-
fcient in the knowledge Of the glorious arts of
peace and the less glorious art of war; The
at this moment by South America, furnishes the
world with a solution Of the great problem Of civ
ization Il is this: that it is the mission of the
Anglo Saxon family of men to civilize the world !;
and that the more extensive the infusion OF that
people with the other races of mankind the more
rapid will be their advance in all the arts and ele.
ments Of civilization.
OPERAS IN RIO JANEIRO AND VALPARAISO
Some the South Americans possess a musical
taste quite as unexceptonablc as that displayed
by the COMMITTEE of Subscribers" to our own
Opera. Operas are supported in Rio Janeiro and
Valparaiso upon a scale of magni6cence which
have never witnessed in New York. Indeed an
Italian operate troupe may be found in every city
of importance in South America. In Rio Janeiro
the emperor and his family are scrupulously reg
ular in their attendance at the Opera and IN Val
paraiso it is mainly supported by the foreign resi-
dents, OF whom there are many wealthy and en-
terprising attended the Opera in Valparaiso
think ~ Puritani' was the piece performed
and ii was given with ability and marked effect
The Instrumentation was exceedingly accurate
and beautiful the orchestra numbered aboutiOrty
persons. The choruses were defective; the
prima donna reminded me strongly OF Truth her
acting was graceful and elegant and her voice,
which gave evidence OF the highest cultivation,
possessed n sweetness and purity which have
never heard excelled. Similar praise might be
Justly awarded to the basso and tenor The cos
tunes and scenery, as well as the audience and
the building itself showed the presence of wealth
and rehp ement.
VALPARAISO.
The lucrative business of Valparaiso is almost
wholly monopolized by foreigners. The best me-
chanics and the richest merchants are foreigners;
the natives do not seem to possess sufficient busi-
ness tact to enable them to compete with the
American, English and Scotch residents. The
natives are in fact merely 4" hewers OF wood and
drawers Of water" while the more enlightened
Anglo Saxons amass colossal fortunes with ease
and rapidity. Valparaiso (which rendered in
English means, suppose, " Vale OF Paradise J
is the most important commercial port IN the Pa
cific ocean. The amount OF shipping IN the har-
Dor seemed to be nearly equal to that which we
see approaching the harbor of NewYork. There
is an extensive trade carried on with the interior;
the ancient mode Of transportation by mules Is
still universally practiced. have seen droves OF
these animals numbering several hundred in each,
coming into the city helterskelter, all heavily
laden, and without any other guide than one or
two pedestrian drivers. An abundance OF wheat
and potatoes Of an excellent quality are grown
in Chilli Vegetables, consisting OF pumpkins,
beans, onions, &c. &c grow almost spontaneously
and are fully equal, and In many instances su-
perior to our own. The soil must, therefore. be
very thrifty and productive.
SCENERY AROUND PERNAMBUCo
The country in the neighborhood of Pernambu-
GO CBrsziD is exceedingly beautiful While in
that city procured horse, and in company with
two friends, rode cut to the "Baden-Bsden' or
"Newport Of Brazil, to which the wealthy re-
sidents retreRted during the prevalence Of the
yellow fever in the city. The country through
which we node abOunded in groves Of figs aud
cocoanut trees and smiling pastures while ever
and anon vast gardens. overcrowded quite with
fragrant flowers, would greet our eyes. My bo-
tancal education being somewhat limited, could
not End names for the multitude of flowers l
could only pause, and calculate beautiful; Oh
how beautiful " There are many prinoely resi-
dences in the environs of Pernambuoo; the arch
lecture is evidently an importation Of the ARA
gonese or the hidslgos Of old Spain. They are
generally square and massive buildings construct
ed of The most dnrable materialS they are with.