New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-17
THE TRANSIT EXPEDITION.

AAN 4nhNOAx MAI GO1 41O0s
THE swATARA PARTY AT CAPE TOWN.
TIE VOYAGE TO BRAzfLr-cUSroMs AND CURRENCY OF
BAHIA-LAvIsH HOSPITALITY OF cAPR TOWN
COURTESY PRoFFEBED By CAPT. CHANDLER--A
MARRIAGE FEAST AMONG THE MALAYs. G .ltrg /
IRON A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT on THE TRIBUNE. ]
Us. STEAMER SwATARA, IN PORT AT CAPE
TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, Aug. 1.After leaving New York
the swatara kept steadily In the direction Of the Cape
Verd Islands seasckness fell into such dsrepute that
after the first week out the caterer OF the
doubt as to whether there wond be any limit the APP
pite OF scientific men, Very we learned that the
Dest weather prophets those who said the least
certainly In spite OF the navigators books the suen
looks Oh Jack on witnessing the eager efforts Of
the nauraiss aboard to capture the birds sweeping
IN the wake Of the ship In spite Of the season. have
reached this port with more rough than two or
three fresh gales" Of wind could stir up. Crossing
the Gulf Stream, enjoying the phosphorescent waves
Dredging now and then with hand-net tied by cord
TO the stern Of the ship served TO bege the monotony
OF the perpetual ship motion. Our first event was the
meeting Of the French ship Moere tho afternoon OF
SABBATH, July 2s.-She -had-been 50 DAYS out
from Mauritius,r and was bound for Cadiz. We
hope the messages to those at home Which the Molere
bore away from our ship, have reached America ere
tnis. On the following Tuesday we began to steam
through the "Doldrons of the North Atlantic. While
hereit was rain one half hour, semiclear the next
torrent the third ending up half watch with perhaps
asquall In which 1t rained, drilled, and poured
cessyey People who very patriotic at home
are apt to become when the eth OF July hnds them
away from It, for one was certainly never sincere
In my desire to see the fireworks as when the evening
OF the 4th We gave expression to patriotism
by burning some red, blue and green lights
which had been condemned as useless for
signal purposes From the yardarns the lights looked
pretty enough, aud the could be seen distance
from the ship Then after the sailors had spced the
main BRACE" the day wound up with singing. On Mon
day. the 6th sighted the picturesque rocks OF Fer
nando di Noronha. Our took within about Is
miles OF the steepeshaped peak which towers about
1000 feet above the level of the There is penal
settlement from Brazil In the island. There village
OF few hundred inhabitants The vegetation is said
be beautiful.
THE SHORES OF BRAZTI-THE CITY OF BAHIA.
The islands sank into the horizon, and Friday the
10th Of July. sighted the sandy OF Brazil The
sand had been dted by the wind up the sides Of the
hills. and patches of the white the tops Of the hills
closely initiated snow. At o'clock we sighted the
Castle Of st. Antonio, which marks for can hardly say
guards, the Bay of All Saints. We dropped anchor
about threefourths OF mile from the round Fort 10
Mar which TO protect the shipping and City Of Bahia
There rain squal at the time. and don't recoec
anything else did when there was not the alterna-
tive OF hot or drilling rain. There seems to be
moderate weather, nor is it ever cloudy for sew
ersl consecutive hours. We in their Winter 1t
was hot. Somebody said the difference between Sum-
mer and Winter at Bahia Is that Summer is very hot
while Winter is only hot The average temperature OF
Summer is $50 and of Winter is 100 in the harbor
The city certainly looks pretty from the bay The
lower part, with Its lines Of warehouses along the
wharf stretching along the shore the full of quarter
circle around the bay; the upper and better ham, lying
In the tops OF the steep hills which begin about quar-
ter OF mile from the edge OF the shore. wish could
say pleasant things Of the Interior of the town The
streets are narrow and filthy The absence of sidewalks
on most Of the streets of the lower town oblges the
traveller TO walk In the middle OF the street. After dusk
the deDzens have an unfortunate habit OF throwing
all sorts OF refuse from the house Windows strong
through OF the streets, therefore, becomes
perous matter after nghtfal The absence OF horses
for the common ranserance Of goods is another impede
ment TO strangers comfort The street cars, OF which
there are two lnes are hauled by mules Twice only,
during my stay of four days. saw trucks hauled by
horses carrying merchandise. carriage, with driver
and four horses can be had only fabulous price for
an afternoons drive should not think Bahia has much
in It different the average South American CITY, Inc
houses mostly built OF clay, ornamented with sort
OF succo work. The works OF engineering such as Gull
vert arches built Of brick Tile roofs cover the
houses and in some of the streets they beautifully
faced with porcelain The houses OF OF the foreign
ministers remind one strongly Of a well built suburban
residence at home The churches are probably the best
works OF their architects. There are about 60 Roman
Catholic churches aud believe chapel for the Eplsco'
pal and Presbyterian services. Prominent among
their churches Is that OF "BOm hm," which stands
on the hill Mont serrat. At this church saw
the models in OF diseased portions OF the BODY OF
some of the believers whose recovery was traceape 10
the influence OF the church dspeng tho disease Pas-
NJ mixtures OF mOSt neart-
rendug shipwrecs OF fire, with the unfortunate
sufferers hanging by exemporzsd ropes from third
story windows; escapes from perils real and mag
inary are attributed the church, and the faithful
worshper thus hands to his succeeding generation the
record OF his salvation. should not infer that the
pantngs were by the best artists the models in wax
were much more artistic.
SOUTH AMERICAN CURRENCY AND TRADE.
The churches open at all hours of the day and
we were beseged tho beggars who 1--we at the chuca
doors for the sake OF the dumps" the passing traveller
il anxious to got rid Of Speaking of dumps the
currency Of Bahia is OF English and Brazilian,
with touch Of any coins stranger may chance to In
troduee found In my hand Gillian, English, and an
American coin, after receiving change from q
shop dealer when 1 had given him DanK
note of Brazil Tue dump" is copper coin
about the size of plate and is equivalent to 40
reis of Brazilian money, about two centsin American
enrrency IL somewhat frighens the stranger to enter
the street car and 10 be told that the fare 10 200 es
or that the price OF pound Of sugar is 800 res There
TO be something malicious Ia tT ~ m h c
anarce OF merchandise will cost Inc nrs question: ne
asks after you have turned on your nee aI ns @
Infant price is "How much will you give T. am sorry
I cannot recommend the tradesInen Of Bahia as being
worthy tradesmen to deal with but they WI, coeat,
The streetcar conductors will put an extra dup 10
vor fare the charge for riding In the steam elevator
from the lower 70 the upper city WI, Dc mySse,
riously increased from three 10 iour humps
~ Won watch not your change. AT least