The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1855-07-12

.efes''pg observations on brazilian high life.
The Countess is an illegitimate sister of the
Emperor, and wins so much upon his re-
gard by her amiabiity and intelligence,
that he has conferred upon her an annuity
of co,ooo mil-reas, (somo 10000 dolIars,)
and title of nobility on her husband,
very respectable gentleman. She dresses
with remarkable simplicity, and exhibits on
all occasions an unassuming artlcssness of
behavior, that renders her exceedingly pop
ular. An interesting little girl from South
Carolina, boarding at the same Hotel, was
very intimate, and a great favorite, with
her.
After we had dined, and while still sit
ting at the table, I was introduced for the
first time to custom which, however re-
pugnant to an exacting fastidjousness, is
nevertheless quite useful, and therefore de-
fenslbie. The servants at this stage of the
entertainment handed to the guests, what
in the States would have been cigars for
the gentlseasa; md perhaps coffee for the
ladies, but4 here were could not divine
for long timeGwbat, though deposited in
glasses all along the table from the first
tooth,pichs, made of kind of white wood,
that looked like the sap of hickory. Some
of the gentlemen took two or three at once,
and all went earnestly to work digging into
their teeth. 1 must add, however, that 1
did not see the ladies using them.
Our lady passengers, I should have stated
before this, came Oh shore once or twice
during the delay Of the Architect at Rio
an enterprise not altogether free from ex-
pense, or very agreeable to ladies' since the
vessel lay at anchor more than two miles
from shore. On ono of these occasions,
the hotel was so crowded that we were oh.
liged to share our room with them, (let no
prudc SO into fits at this J the single bed,
before described, was given up to as many
as it would hold, and the rest took the set
tees; as for ourselves, like true Knights er-
rant, we found excellent quarters on the
floor, the ladies' dresses serving as pillows
wc needed no covering. "Honi SOFT qui
NAL q pcnse."
Our ship had touched at Rio to take in
supply of fresh provisions and water, and
these essentials being now provided, we
were ready once moro to pursue our voyage
to El Dorado. Most Of the passengers had
goods on board, which they hoped quick
run round the Horn would enable them to
sell to good advantage in San Francisco,
and were therefore especially impatient of
this delay. The Captain, atlcngth, fixed
day for sailing, and when it came, we gladly
exchanged the fascinatiops of Rio for the
monotonous life Of ship board; but VIC had
rs well have saved ourselves the trouble and
the pleasure, for we were not destined to
weigh anchor that day, nor for several sub
sequent oncs-no Cahisinse came to, take
command. and since we were wholly de-
pendant, at least for Tue time, upon the
movements of that authoritative gentleman,
we could do no more than submit, and
make the best of it. Some of us, in the
course of the day, overhauled him, and af-
ter apologizipg for his delinquency, he set
another timssto sail as before, VIC were
in our places, but again no Cap
tain was to be found and each successive
day for week wc were thus trifed with.
Our eyes wsSAnow wide awake; the truth
was, the Captain had contracted on the sea,
rs is too often the case, an invetcratc fond |
pss for liquor, and when once in port, and
snugly stored away in old quarters, where
good brandy and other luxuries aboundcd, |
it wasltke hardest thing in the world to re-
ship him. Provoked at being treated in
this way, and now heartily sick of lying in
port, we fell back upon the great motive
power of Anglo-Americans-w called
meeting of the passengers, and freely dis
cussed the propnety of appointing the first
mate Captain, and, with. the consent of our
Consul, sail at once, leaving the Captain to
his cups and 'fisgIorY. semember it was
urged, anongscthcr things, that when IN
der restraint out at,sca, ,:he had been heard
to curseLhe inventor Of slips, and his own
fate as-Captain ofone, and therefore he de-
served to be broken of his command. It
was decided at last, however, to wait OH
him with committee, and lay the views Of
the meeting fairly before him. A Mr.. p,
Of New Orleans, headed this committee,
and did his duty with great candor; at the
conclusion Of his report the Captain turned
to- him with sailor iMdiaereuce, and replied,
Mr..P, ron sare a doubled-faced rascal,
sir" In rat instaht, the dilatory salt
found himself dosb bling over on the floor, r.
having snddenI plantsd 8 blow somewhere
in the region betwes1the eyes.
g s IS 8 & @ difficulty with the
ssssssd s0ap de grace brought on the
deS9rad ~ ~ flnext day tho Conto;n ;o;,od