The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-16
From the Mis-
from a Letter of Rev,


GRNAMBUCo, Brazil January 81,
41Iter u safe and pleasant esi- on
Ontario, kindly kept of Goo sc rS4cted l'ernaul-
buco on the morning of January 18th. The view
of the city from the ocean is rather pleasing In
front is reef of coral rock, 600 or 700 feet from
the land, forming d natural break water This is
not particularly pretty in ITSELF but it adds to the
scene to see the rolling waves break upon the rocks
and utter their angry grow as the white spray
plunges over, or is dashed back into the ocean
This reef extends a mile or two southwark. In
this inner harbor thus formed, along in front of
the city, a large mOer OF ships ride at anchor
There flows through the city winding river, Capt.
barbe, dividing the city into three different Sec
tons. From the ocean back to the first curve is
called Recite-taklng its name from the reef be
tween the first and second serves is San Antonio;
beyond the second is Boa Vista, till you approach
the suburbs This river is spanned by quite sub
stantial bridges, over some OF which pass steam
cars and streetcars They are paved with rough
stones. The one over the third curve has side
walks inlaid with marble The river, OF course,
gives picturesql lie look to the quarters OF town
through which it passes. The main part of town
is closely built up. The streets are many of them,
quite narrow, with one narrow side walk; some
with none at all. They are winding, rambling, and
crooked. Very many of the houses here are white
or mostly so, creating quite care. They all have
tile roofs quite good and suitable for this climate
Passing on ION Boa Vista, back toward the cOun.
try, the city becomes a blending Of country and
city; residences surrounded with extensive grounds
filled with this protuse tropical foliage. High
stone or brick walls enclosing these grounds detract
not a little from the general beauty OF the whole
Nevertheless there is a great charm in all this
quarter of the city, in so many green trees all
around. Indeed these South American cities re-
mind me somewhat of the French quarters of New
Orleans. Around the city are humber of small
villages at the distance OF few miles. accessible
by rail- The province of PernambucO is quite
tbickly settled. In it are quite number of towns
some of few thousand inhabitants. We have
one railroad extending 80 miles back into the coun
try; some others in temptation Some of these
towns are accessible by sea. The climate of this
place is good. 1t is about 81 s. lat, and $50 w.
long. am told the usual range Of the thermome-
ter, for the year, is from so to Sc.
The city is large and populous, of a hundred
thousand or more inhabitants. | fad here several
hundred English and American residents. Ard
these English speaking people are certainly very
kind and obliging Through the kindness of some
of them | was comfortably settled in few hours
after my arrival. They are hospitabe and live
without formally. There isSheSe az Eoglish Con,
suar chapel and chaplain. But am sorry to fud
that the chapel is poorly attended The Rector,
Mr.. Addison, is pleasant and agreeable gentle
man. My first Sunday here | preached TO the
wrecked crew of the Erie, who were on an island
close by. also preached on board the Ontario.
1t seemed singular to be preaching on the deck Of
the ship out on the wide ocean. This city knows
but little about evangelical Christianity, notwith.
standing its many churches. The same old tale
that you have often heard Of Brazilian priests and
Brazilian society, is true OF this place. The priests
lead openly scandalous lives, and the people hold
them In undlSguised contempt. The Catholic re-
ligion has no hold upon the people, except so far
as their ancestral pride is concerned. They are
Catholics because their fathers were. They revile
their priests but take off their hats some of them
while passing the churches where such priests per-
form their idoatrOu, rites. The women are more
under the influence of the priests. The men do
not care not 6igoted, but totally Indifferent. They
dsbeeve whatever OF Rome dogmas they please,
but decline the name Of Protestant. They have
no conception OF true religion. | think we can
fnd In their present sad state, in addition to the
Masters broad command, strong argument from
his example for preaching to them. lie came not
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance
Shall not ttiS very reason, which led him to for
sake 1.-THE glory which he had with the Father,
before the world was, lead his Church to send
his gospel to these lands; which yet sit in dark
ness? A gentleman, Scotch Presbyterian, who
has resided here some years, and seems to have
Stuuleu tue elSns vi lne uueS, eApIesSeu 10 me
the opinion that few earnest, energetic mission
aries might change the character of this country
by Gods blessing. He says there is an evident
dissatisfaction in The Brazilian mind, and craving
after something better. He approved the plan of
DIR. A. Duff, in introducing schools into the mis-
sions of India. He thinks that the great need of
this country. The first who come may have to
SOW the seed and others enter Into their labors
He pronounced Pernambuco good place for
mission. There is work here. He says the Bra
zlians hate the British, he knows it, though they
deny it; but they like the Americans. May there
not be some appeal in this preference, TO some of
our young men to hasten with the gospel to this
land?