The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-22

ripples the smooth surface OF the sea; tiny land
and nearer and higher grew the naked cii1s, the
loty peaks the majestic domes OF the wonderful
We entered through the passage between the
Islands OF Pal and MAI, and az we rounded the
Mas 70 as up S PAY us I'M
expanse Of water, dotted with lsets, the belt OF
sreen verdure descending 70 tue waters edge, and
talns, form picture which Is well worthy the
numerous euloglums which nave been bestowed
We anchored at about eleven A. M and sent
ashore for our mail, but, with rev fortunate ex.
ceptions, It was entirely missing and such Is the
MIsNANAaEMENr OF POSTAL AFFAIRS
mere tnat we have not been able to satisfy ourselves
up to the present time as 10 whether our letters
have been here and have been sent forward by mis-
IN some NOOK OF Iae Posi- ONCE H arv W ss
tney WILL remain until the next general cleaning
o FAR from ar. nave assured US that
quite usual for them not to receive their letters for
ve or six weeks after their arrival at the port We
nave seen many things TO admire IN the Brazilian
government since we nave been here, but this Is
sad drawback and offers a lamentable contrast to
Our prompt and reliable postal system One other
deprecatory observation should be made In refer
ence to the action oil the government In giving to
one man Me-lOng monopoly OF the business or
supplying vessels with water, mus putting 1t IN ms
power 20 detain ship until 1t is his pleasure to
send on the required amount OF that necessary art
Gle. 1t Is a mos. unjust, unwse and unreasonable
act, and they would BIO made to feel that 1t Is
were the people possessed Of more Northern energy
since we have been here number of trips INTO the
pleasure and profit. Soon after we came a party Or
seven assembled the mountain Of TlJuca, just back
three Thousand feet is the highest Of the range Of
mountains on that side OF the harbor. Taxing the
way Company 1--WE we were conyeyed rapidly BY sue
cesslve relays or line mules through the suburbs or
RIO anu the adjoining iields to me little village Of
ABOUT an hours ride from the city. There we TOOK
places IN the diligence, which ascends at stated
| "A W n IN
In this vehicle We were up the road by four
mules, and, considering the sTeepness Of the as
ON 100 feet We reached i' the village es Of
njuca, having had on our way some lovely views
OF Rio. OF the Orgau Mountains and OF the fantastic
peaks OF Gavia and Corc0vado. Al times TOR hum
dreds OF feet OF our ascent the mountain wall rose
again 1t would retreat win gentle SLOPE green
WITH luxuriant foliage, purple with the melastome,
From the village slight descent led US the hotel,
at which we remained during or TWO days. stay
worthy oil special mention. Plcturesquey placed
conveniently built. comfortably arranged and,
rooms are constantly In demand, nor That the long
table I'D tie cheerful dining room should be crowded
with guests during the summer months
THE PRINCIPAL ATTRACTIONS OF THE PLACE
exclusively for the se Of
6asn twenty Ieet square ,a and ave dees deep, Is
at one side ana out AZ the other. forming two min
lature cascades; stone steps lead into the pool
Within anu under the CaSCdue without; TWO lattlCet
arbOrs on the edges OF tne enclosure airy
dressing rooms. Thick cldmps OF DamDOOs, coffee
hedges. fied with fruit ana fowers ana steep
nil, covered with uxuriant shrubDery, shield two
sides oil the pond wnle from the Others wild ana
rugged prospect adds 70 the charm Of this unique
BATH such combination OF natural advantages,
succeeding the dimlnutive rubber tuDs with whIcl
most Of us had been obliged to be content Tor
several weeks, was great luxury anu was duly
appreciated as SUCH from three to five danY visits
being made to that spot during our stay on tne
mountain. An attempt to reach the peak was made
unsuccessful. owing to the directions given by an
VINO with the utmost pOllteness and voluDilty sent
us several miles out oil our course. When the
take was discovered 1t was too late to recIify it,
but delightful day was spent In wandering over
the mountain, following up the course OF brooks,
stray CLEANS OF sunlight pierced the arch OF foliage
above u.s. and the roar OF cascade the ripple OF
q streamiet seemed 10 cool the air.
After dinner at the hotel went to see some |
immense masses OF granite which since the PROBES
OF Thy arg by al
little distance from the ground by smaller pieces OF
IN their present position by the dlslntegraton OF
their lower p0rtiOns ana the consequent settling or
the mass. me me ~surement OF one aud that not
the largest or these bou ders showed 1t TO be eighty
feet long, sixtyeght feet broad and hftyfour feet
high.
On tle succeeding day we were more successful.
and alter SIX hours hard climbing reached the sum.
mt. is was about thirty feet IN diameter and was
magnificent, embracing the city the entire bay ana |
the nelgh3oring range Of mountains with the inter-
did not remain there Tor long lime, but commenced
tie descent, which was comparatively easy and |
occupied only about three hours. A bath, dinner
and an exhlarating ride to the City behind four
mules at full speed, concluded this very pleasant
excursion. Numerous other trips were made, Cor.
covadO was assembled and the Botanical and Public
Gardens were visited, and one more extensive
physical and political condition OF The country than
any other. On the mornlng OF February large |
party left the ship about five O'Clock. short pull
across quiet harbor-tne water just catcnng the
CLEAN oil daylight, but still pnospnorescent IN the |
were already awaiting us. We were driven through |
the narrow Streets Just awakening 10 the dust and |
orant courrters oelng as at nome-the bakers with
their morning rolls the shop boys yawnlng as they |
took down shutters, and yagabonds sinking away
from The dO0rsteps or aeyways where they had
ONE OF THE MORNING SIGHTS
here Is, however, more characteristic ana Is one
which New York might probably initiate The
miikmen go their rounds not with cans OF a blue,
unsavory nondescript, out with the themselves,
and milk them directly into the jag or pail OF the
purchaser, thus almost doing away with Inc posi-.
bnity OF fraud. the water carts, too, were gong
from door to door furnishing the daily supply, as
nearly all the water used In Rio oota ned in this
inconvenient manner. short drive brought us to !
the station OF the Dom Pedro II. Railroad where, |
through The kindness OF the chef engineer OF the
road, special car was provided for Us on the ex-
press tram, which started at six O'CLOCK We were |
not ons Iii passing from the suburbs into tue open
country, one OF the most remarkable sights about
the outskirts OF the being the immense cOngre.
CATION Of buzzards surrounding the slaughter
houses and performing their duty as scavengers
win much more fidelity than the employees OF the
heath officials in our large cities.
After we had lett the city behind us the scenery
became highly picturesque and Increased In beauty
as we assembled. The road on which we were trav. |
cling Is a very remarkable one, traversing q sec.
ton OF the country which presented formidable OBJ
stacles and only overcome at last by an unusual |
combination OF Skill energy and perseverance In !
few individuals. In gong eleven miles we passed |
through thirteen tunnels-one OF them mile and |
half long, having ST. 500 900, and piercing the
Sena do Mar, an extensive range OF mountains. !
Entering on one side In four or five minutes you !
emerge on the other, sometimes having been |
wnisked IN that short time from sunny skies and
pleasant weather into clouds and storms. The |
whole road cost about fifteen millions OF dollars and
Is owned entirely by the government. When the |
branch roads now IN process OF construction are |
finished there WILL be from 500 to 60J miles OF rail-
road reading TO and from Rio and the neignboring
ne N he ack nj Tho