Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-02-16
BRAZIL.
The HarbOr of Rio JanefrO-BraZtlfan
Houses and Streets-DOm Po6r"s
Summer Residence--A Rail |ay
Opening.

The Harbor of Rio Janefro-Brazilian
Houses and Streets-DOm Pedro's
Summer Residence--A Railway
Opening.
Correspondence of the New York Tribune.
Rio DE JANEIRo, Jan.-The harbor Of
Rio Janeiro is unsurpassed by any on the
globe for the grandeur of its scenery.
Through q channel no wider than the Mar
rows of New York the steamers enter the
sharp-peaked Sugar Loaf rising, like q
majestic sentinel, at its gat s. Then the
Corcovaco Tijuca and the f1at-topped
Gavia rise abruptly from the Bay, with
dark mountain ranges stretching OFT III the
hazy distance. The harbor then opens
wide and deep, in circular form, sur
rounded by three magnificent hills, with
the Grand Organ range as base, purple
crowned in the western horizon.
| The city is built upon series
of hills, and presents quaint
and most attractive appearance to the
stranger. The moving life { f is not unlike
that of the larger European or North
| American towns,-but when the strange
architecture, the warm colors OF exterior
| decoration, the low, narrow streets are
| brought ia as part of the picture, 1t stands
unique, alone, unlike London, Paris or New
| York, having all the characteristics of the
| tropics and of the old-time civilization OF
which it is the growth. The city has less
than half million inhabitants and is full
of fascinating interest to one who, for the
first time, wanders about It's streets. The
houses are of one and two stories,
with iron balconies. The latter are
always occupied, and either be-
hind latticeI shades or exposed
| to direct observation, the ladies of Rio while
away their time, offen with Opera-glasses
in their hands, observing the glittering life
| of the Streets as it flows by them through
the day. These houses are of slight con-
struction built of sticks and mud plaster
ed between, smoothed down to surface by
cement to receive the vermilion and yellow
wash which seems to be the favorite coors
with Brazilians. A good frost would de-
stroy half the houses IN Brazil The Rua
Ovador is the Palais Royal Of Rio Charm
ing little shops are here as brilliant as Paris
is at night, and as fascinating. Every ar
ticle that the rich markets of India or
Europe can furnish are presented here,
displayed with q taste and skill that only
Partisan artist can rival.
Petropolis, the summer residence OF the
Emperor, is fifty miles from Rio, reached
by steamer, rail, and diligence. As we
were whirled over this single-irack road,
built and equipped in the English style,
the dark, black mountains stood out in the
gloomy background, cavernous, iuaccessi-
ole with forests which no sun can pene-
trate, mass of blue black rocks and trees
of majestic form. At the station at the
foot of the Sierra the diligences were wait
ing, and at the crack of the Portuguese
drivers whip, the four mules started up the
mountain road at a bound. This road ex
tends over 100 miles thro' the mountains to
Entire Rios, and is magnificent triumph
of engineering skill. To Petropolis, 10
miles, it rises one foot in Is, a solid road
oed of Macadam, of width ample for two
such teams as ours to travel abreast over all
the sharp t1lrnings of the winding way.
Heavy walls OF masonry are constructed
on both sides of the road for protection
from the deep abyss on the one hand, and
the encroaching vegetation and mountain
slides of rocks and trees on the other deep,
wide culverts of stone with smooth floors
and sides of masonry, outlets for the
flowing torrents which roar down
the hills and force their way to the deeps
bellows, are also frequently seen in the
wlndings of the road, and clean, smooth
cutters for the springs aud brooks which
trickle over the rocks and extend from the
directly into cloud, and mist, and rain,
which enveIoped the higher peaks of the
mountains; but in the descent the next
morning on foot the full glory of the
scenery was disclosed. At every step was
this matchless vegetation; endless varieties
of trees, and shrubs and vines; trailing,
creeping parasites Towering from the
trees; hanging moss, from tWlg and branch,
an impenetrable growth of tangled ferns,
and clinging shoots of green; palm-trees
in every variety, cactus OF every shape,
mango and umbrella-trees of mavellous
growth; vegetation covering rocks and
trees, and walls of stone alike, of which no
description can present picture. The
views in the turnings of the road were
beautiful. They opened upon a lovely
sweep of valley thousands of feet below, a
wild descent of frocks and trees, to 2 smil-
ing plain stretching off to the waters edge,
the blue bay of the Rio rejecting the warIa
sunlight upon its waters Above me tower
ed the great hills whose peaks, wreathed
in white curling mists. disclosed gigantic
powders of rock and the inaccessible for
ests which Wal ed for the sun to warm and
illuminate them.
A month ago the Rio Janeire street rail-
way was inaugurated with imposing cere
monials by the Emperor in person. The
day was holiday in Rio. The streets
through which the rails were laid were
thronged by festive people, dressed in
their best, as for pageant The cars in
procession went to the Palace gates for the
Emperor, who, with the Imperial family,
entered handsomely decorated Car, and
was driven to the new station, where an
elegant lunch was prepared. Another table
in an adjoining building was spread for 400
guests-as rich an entertainment, and as
beautiful in its details of ornamentation as
could be prepared in any part of the world.
The railroad is a success in its construction
and equipment; and, if one may judge of
its value from the market quotation of 40
per cent premium, there is every indica-
ton that it will be pecuniary success.