Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-16
LETTERS FROM BRAZIL.
Impressions Of the Country---Markets, Fruits, &c
Emigration
RIO DE JANEIRo, BRAZIL,
.Tupn C6. 1855

RIO DE JANETRO, BRAZIL,
June 26. 1866.
We are still here and likely to be some days
longer, waiting for vessel going to Paranagua,
where [ expect to meet Dr. Blue and consult
with him about suitable location for farming.
Like Americans generally, [ am rather impa
tent to keep going ahead and yet, the attrac-
tions of this place are such that [ feel as if
could remain here permanently. if | could find
good cheap farm in the neighborhood, and if
the weather would never be any warmer. But
lands about here are too. dear, and the summers
are too hot 1t is what is called winter here
mer weather. So, as this liberal Government
supplies us with everything we need, except
food, and as that costs us only about three dol
lars day for the entire family, we can well af--
ford to spend few days contentedly, getting
our ''land legs On again, and seeing the sights
OF this charming city.
have been around a good deal for the last
day or two seeing the sights, and they are so
new that one feels among them like child in a
Christmas toy shop, bewildered in choosing
those most worthy ofobservation. 10 farmer
like me, the markets have been the most at
tractive places. | have visited several, but a
description Of one will serve for all. [ select
the one down near where we landed-an open
French Market that used to be on the spot
where the Merchant Exchange now stands In
st. Louis, about twenty five years ago. The
rickety stalls and booths, barrels, baskets, stools
etc., were the same but what a difference IN
the wares Instead of the garden stuff" of
st. Louis, my eyes were delighted with aston
Ishlng piles of plneapples, oranges, bananas,
grapes, cocoa nuts, and many other fruits L
never saw before. Aud, instead of the little
dried up French from about Cahokia, here
were nothing but negroes of every hue, from
ebony black to light tan-their skins having
that smooth, oily look, that always betokens
among them-particularl the females-were
fat, decidedly so, and looked as if they had
| never had moments sickness nor care in their
lives. / looked around in hopes to see at least
one honest Dutchman behind pile of cabbage
or barrel of krout But was disappointed
Ne er one was to be seen. And when on
looking further [ found there was not lager
beer saloon in 81 ght, and not even suspicion
OF Limberg cheese on the balmy air coming In
from the bay, realized more fully than ever
before that was far, far away from st. Louis
and Missouri. There seems to be no market
master regulating the keeping of different classes
of articles in certain localities All lis left to the
taste and judgment ofthe negroes, and ofcourse
tables, eggs, meats, monkeys, &c, we're display
ed wherever the owners found room for them
and for their own broad persons. There they
sat, or squatted or stood laughing and chatter
ing like so many parrots
was attracted to stall having on it pyra-
mid of the largest and handsomest oranges [
ever saw, presided over by big negro woman
| who would weigh at least two hundred and
twenty pounds, avoirdupois dressed in calico
! blazing with figures Of tulips and other gaudy
colors, bright Madras handkerchief around
her head, coral necklace and enormous gold
earrings She smiled as | stopped. and jab-
bered out something, in Portuguese I suppose
which, of course, [ did not understand.
| pointed to the oranges, and asked how she sold
| them She did not know what l meant, but
picking up fine specimen she inserted her
nails under the skin, stripped about half OF it
| off, and handed it to me, making motion for
me to taste it. did so, and must say [ never
tasted anything Of the kind so delicious The
skin, unlike those you get IN St. Louis, was
very thin, with none of that white, insipid sub
stance SO often found between it and the meat,
and the latter was Of a dark yellow lncllning to
red. laid down dime, supposing that to be
the value of the orange, and started off eating
it. was instantly stopped by the clatter of
the woman who evidently wanted me to come
back. She held up both hands, her fingers
and thumbs wide apart, and looked at me in
uuiringly Not knowing what better to do, [
smiled and nodded when she picked out ten
of the finest in the heap, and motioned me to
take them. Luckily had large bandana
handkerchief in my pocket, SO | was able to
take them with me, although they would have
filed a peck measure.
| A little further on | found heaps of bananas,
some yellow. some red, and all Of sizes that sur
prised me. | bought a bunch for quarter OF
dollar, weighing at least twenty five pounds.
had now something of an elephant" on my
hands, and went home with them as soon as |
could-tired enough with the load when reach
ed our rooms. Mr. Massey and my wife were
delighted with the purchase-more especially
the latter when informed that what at first she
supposed cost three or four dollars, and which
in ST. Louis would have sold for six or seven
only cost thirty five cents. After resting awhile