The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-10-29
rrespondence of the journal.
Letter from Rio de Janeiro.

RIO DE JANEIRo. Aug. %. 1874.
A. our good ship passed the fort of santa
Cruz, with streaming colors, to show our ma.
tohaIlty, we We're reminded of an article which
appeared IN Your columns some months Since
entitled, ''Saluting the American Flag"
The entrance TO this magnificent harbor i,
very narrow. ON the left is conspicuous
landmark called the Sugar Loaf Mountain
which is Il good guide for any one approaching
his mountain coast. The Sugar .oaf is a won.
dertul 'treak Of nature; it is 1870 feet high
and its top has an inclination 10 the west. SC
that II has Tie appearance of being bent in the
middle There is scarcely any vegetation to be
seen, except few brambles on its side. One
enteIprisng Yankee attempted to climb. and
finally succeeded in gaining the tor, but found It's
descent much more difficult After bruisng
himself 10 his satisfaction. shining down its
rocky side, and a conflict with the brambes,
Which well nigh scratched out his ewes. without
scratching them in again. unlike the old nursery
rhyme he picked himself up more dead than
alive, at the foot Of the mountain. fully con-
Ninced in his own mind that the path was moi
way Of pleasantness and peace
A delightful excursion for a oay, is il visit TO
Mount Tiiuca, which is 1916 feet high To the
lover Of the beautiful in nature. this is indeed
rich feast of good things. even ii his bones
should ache f0T week atterWard. The tram
way or horse cars lead from the city to the foot
OF the mountain, whence diligence will be OBJ
famed drawn bv six mules three abreast.
" hen the hourfor starting arrives, the passen-
gers Jump in, i'll aspiring for the front seat, in
order to obtain the best view. then the postil-
non cracks hi long whip, and we are Off As
lhe road winds around the mountain now here
ana now there, on slightly elevated plain. the
view Is enchanting beyond description. Each
Turn IN the road reveals new beauties. On one
>lde we are distracted At the sight of COSY
nest OF a cottage, nesting in a charming valley.
We have scarce time to look on the other side.
where stately mansion is situated, on an emf
henee among cultN ated grounds, half hidden
by the trees, ere a turn in the road brings to
View The perpendicular side OF the mountain
from whose top a lovely cascade comes tum
bling down lis rocky side TO our feet. And so
il is all the way till we reach the hotel, part
way up the mountain. which is as far as the
diligence can 60. Then the more energetic
ones Will push on with the mules to the ex-
rene top. where ii is 10 be hoped the view
viii repay them for their tiresome haunt. On
TINS part Of the journey are the falls of Tijuca,
which come from an immense height. Close
BY III romantic spot. on a rocky shelf in the
mountain side is planted an iron railing
painted green where the Emperor and his suit
stand when they come TO view the falls
bl1NiuU fine summon n10nthu +Ja ,,-aoi+l,,. -
Rio flee into the mountains 10 escape the heat
and smoke of the city. which is not strange. for
he air is 50 pure and nyigorating it would
Seem that longer lease Of life could be oh
tanned, and some poor invalid. gasping for
breath. might feel as if he were born again.
The owner Of one Of the finest estates on the
mountain, Is not permitted by the government
10 live there, for cruelty to one of his servants
female slave, whom, it is said he killed in A
tit Of passion.
The city of Rio de Janeiro was founded bv a
Portuguese colony, and that language is chiefly
spoken here. The population in and around il
numbers about five hundred thousand Among
the American residents we were glad to meet
with Mr.. and Mrs. jackson: the latter will be
3,etter known to your citizens as Miss Emily
daughter Of Capt jackson Ross, who lived in
the house now occupied by Hon. VIM H. Nc
Lellan. They have resided here five years. and
are now on the point Of returning to the United
States for six months vacation.
There is not much of special interest to be
seen in the city, except the churches and pub
lie gardens, and one visit to these is generally
sufficient The churches are all Catholic with
the exception of one small English chapel.
The interior of these, like the Catholic churches
IN other lands, are ornamented with paintings
and figures of the Virgin Mary the infant
Jesus and the Saints. The public and botanical
gardens are very beautifully arranged and
clearly kept. The artificial ponds, cascades,
arbors &c. with rustic seats, placed here and
there, under the luxurious shade of the trees
are worthy of notice. In the botanical gardens
we Were particularly struck with two rows OF
palm trees, facing the entrance, which form a
magnificent avenue far as the eye can see.
The palm from whose leaves fans are made, is
easily distinguished from all other trees, not
only from the immense height to which it
grows, but the numerous rings around its bodt
1t ls sad new ring appears every seven
years, which indicates its growth in that period
Of time. Near pond in another part of the
gardens we noticed an immense arbor formed
OF bamboo trees. The stalks of each tree were
tied together, so that their foliage, resembling
our willow trees, touched each other. Their
stalks are very strong and useful in MANY
ways; they are used in this country chiefly for
fencing purposes. The air plant is kind pc
culiar to this climate. 1t derives its nourish-
ment wholly from the air. The probability is,
that itwoud not thrive.in changeable climates
like Maine. These plants almost invariably at