New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
,,or,,,rS op BRAZILIAN LIFE.

Mr. Smiths first experience as Brazilian traV-
,iler was about ten years aso.when, as young SUI
aeut he accompanied his teacher, Professor u T.
Hartt. on journey to the AmazonS. four years
nfter he returned TO Brazil for the purpose Oh sVuuy
ing the natural history of the Amazonian animals
and after two wears more he was requested Ivy Pro-
fessor Hartt then in charge of the Brazilian 0eo-
logical Commission, TO make some explorations vi
the northern tributaries of the Amazons' nc uo-
voted more than year to this object ana on 'heil
completion went TO Rio de Janeiro, where ne spen'
four months before returning to the United STATES
The nrosent volnmo is intended 20 combine the
fruits of these travels, with the data 1urhsheo ny
prevous explorers in the direction. so as 10 ex
hibit an accurate and comprehensive picture Oh JIG
country. A..
Several interesting pages are devoted 10 tne
River Para and the extensive territory when Is
fertilized by its waters. In fact, as the author AZ
firms the Para is no more river than Is the Deia
ware Bay, but simply the broad estuary mouth VI
the Tocantins With that and the Gnayha' anu
what il receives from the Amazons, 1t has just
,nouob of cay-stained water slightly to tinge the
,ea outside of Braganca. The main channel Is oeep
and unobstructed. The tide sweeps In ana ou' III
nome places at the rate of four miles an hour'
lew tiled-roof buildings are seen as we approach
the shore. or farm-houses, with rows OF cocoanut
rroves behind. The larger houses have small white
,hapels before them and cross by the water-side'
Gear nv are the thatched buts of Indian or mulattO
fishermen. On approaching the city the channel IS
narrowed by islands crowned with regal palms, anu
tangled vines, and tall forest trees:-
city, this is with manifest destiny a cltS OF
the future, that shall yet enrlch the world WIN s
.omn,erce Some time-whO knOws-it may be the
irue metropolis of Brazil. can suppose tnat. mo
ic Janciro is far removed from the commeerci;ai
mill Wy
and further from Europe. Para IS nearer by almost
half that distance; If 1t has not the harbor OF no,
it has what the southern city lackS-sehGu f to
Sentiment; and tins valley, If people ala Dut know
II, is the richest part of South America Para mas
her title of nobility by her situation she Is queen
The city looks unmportant enough from the
river: q row of white and yeow-washed ware
houses along the waterfront; the anclent-iockihs
snsto,o honse: and rising all, the square
towers of two or three churches. Rampant swamp
forest draws close Ill on either sde, as IL l. MV"iu
RECLAIM ITS royal domain and bury the town IN
green glOries turbd water sweeps aheIiiy, dipuhu
The point, and the score or two OF vessels lyiine
before it tug at their anchors and rock uheaslY'
We sit on deck Ond watch the great purple storhl3
clouds piling themselves up III the eastern sky ana
The sun-toqched towers sharply out trec 6nenn
And we dream of white sailed vessels bearing 10 All
,limes the wealth of the Amazons and the AIDES
of stately warehouses ara plaieu HaiSndnr
If trop;cal vegetation. But then-so 1t goes WIN
areams-the purple clouds change TO black ana senc
down deluge of rain over the ship, hiding our sun
,et towers aud dlssoviug our air-castles. =,
There are no piers. except the small ones OF the
Amazonian Steamboat Company Freight is landed
IN hg6ters and passengers and luggage are taken
ashore IN boats, whereof there Is slnali meet,
manned by exceedingly dirty Portuguese Doatneh
vou paw from one dollar to ten, accorulng 10 the
sate of the tides and your own state OF greenness
However, our deepdTaught steamer mas 10 ancn '2i
30 far below the town that IL would pe iong pun
for the aud the passengers purses 50 s'edlh-
iaunch Is arranged for us all. W 20 leave the eooI
CITY of Rio de Janero little loath for 1t has gown
bcne-likc duriug our voyage we are PROUD OF Ihe
shp as - splendld specimen of American skill, ana
proud of Captain Weir and his officers as American
sailors and genilemel. =, ;
,hne landing at the custOnl-houSe wharf, where an
foreign baggage must De examined. Climbing the
DOW haf-Iuined stairs, We pause cunously az the
Ton 10 catch orr first impressions of the city. There
is a little pagoda-shaped building on the wharf,
with sleeky dressed custOm-house officials sitting
by the door. Grouped around are negro porteI cart
men with red saSbes about their waists rOugn-loOA-
ing sailors women with trays of oranges, dlmnutlve
horses and dOnkeys dragging two-wheeled carIs-a
rich tropical picture glowing frame oil sunshine
And now notice that the sun makes user Ielt
less in heat than in light InG eTP TanspoTed 10
Para in August, would call IT refreshing; nut' paH
ing and qulvoIiug III the ar, streaming Gown
Through every alley, flooding streets ana mouse
IONS comes tie dazzling white light. Red aud yell
low coors are painful shadows are DARK PMS cu'
out of the ground, and an OpJect IN te sh"I9 - "
fined only by VIVID degrees oil biachhess. ~ tdhts
long time Tor the eyes to accustom themselves to
this superabundance of sunshine.
The custuin-konse is an immense stone structure
with Two great towers at the erd, recalling Its
ancient gores 1t was formerly convent, out, py
the decay and final extinction in Para OF the ordef
thar teuanted It, the building reverted to the gov
ernment and was turned over to its present uses
only the little chapel Is still reserved Tor rcglous
nnrnoses 'fle walls are all blacKened with nlidew,
Aud clusters of weeds grow about the te-rooi
WITHIN the long darK corridors ard massive phlaIi
stand in stern contrast to the pies OF Darels "nu
boxes and crates of wine. The walls may nave
tleir dar, secrets: many noble life has burned
itself out in these old converts. But our baggage
Inspector does not concern blhseh aVou. tha,, ~
ulanecs through his gold trimmed spcctac!es win
srifjca eye for our trunks and valises, and bilng
no no pictures oil gray-Iobed monks aud penltentia
tears.
From the cussom-house passing line OF stated
RIVAL palms by the water-side, the way lead
down the Rna da Imperatrid, broad. well pave
street with rows of prim white and yellow build
;ngs two and three stories high, with TALL arche
dooryays aud the ugly green doors that are seen !
all tropical American cities. The largest Whoesal
houses are in this street, quiet, orderly establish
ments the counting-room and warehouse usual
tocether on the ground floor, while the Store
,bove NAV be occupied for Offices and dwellings
The propr,etor locks cool and respectable In HI
,notless white linen clothes; and will receive yo
ooltely if Won enter the stOre but wastes no word
In business hours:-
n, the Rna da Imperatrz We see nothing of tina
roufu.ion OF boxes and bales, carts ana wagons
That characte1zes northern W hOesale street
There are few heavy carriages but all burden
are carried on the heads OF Portuguese ana hegr
workmen or on the ugly little twO-wheeled carts
Ore feature which strikes us faynraby Is tue al
seucc OF that gaudy array of projecting signs wmc
il such an eyes0re iii a Northern city. instead o
bslng Obliged to twist our necks, trying 10 hnd
name i'm the confusion, see II printed IN small
eytle characters the side OF the white doorway
atI,.rting fine attention at Oncc. But IN the neeh
boring Rna dos Mercadores the retail stores ar
often covered with kals0nine patterns, got NJ
tim tn q
mud with whole advertisements printed on them
Th,s Rua dos Mercadores may be called the fashion
able shopping street, though the phrase seems inIh
auol,ed m place where ladies' hardly ever enter
49,. luIina Tie mnIning hours 10 rs very lNey