Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-12

The 0rst ana last impression Oh TINS CITY
Of palms, mounds and lovely bay is that
Of beauty and qusintness. The sugar-loaf
peaks, and the blue Of surrounding hills,
the forts guarding the narrow entrance,
the spacious and lovely bay, and the
strange way the city pours itself around
several round hills that rise up close TO
the coast-like promontories-all these
things fix the first view and are present
as one steams away.
Approaching the island that stands out
srmost as one comes from the south, the
electric light house with its white walls
shines out over the sea. The whole coast
Is studded with azure peaks and the en-
trance into the slit-like opening,
guarded by two rock shoulders OF the
mountain chains, leads to an open recess
from the sea very wide and deep. The
.ntrance is contracted and can not be over
mile wide, and every inch of it is COM
manded by the guns that frown on the
parapets and embrasures of the fortified
mounds.
THE HAPBoR AND THE CITY.
The harbor is circular and ahout ten
miles in diameter, one of the largest and
best in the world, said to be equaled by
he one at Sydney, in Australia. Yet
here are no wharyes at which large ships
.an receive and discharge cargoes. The
lighter and steam tug are here as at
almost every other port in South Amer
Ca, the favorite way to carry freight to
and from the vessel Small steamers and
falling craft can run up TO the solidly-
built stone wharves.
There are seven mounds rising up near
he shore of the bay, with narrow fringes
between their base and the water, whereon
are warehouses and other stores of com
mission merchants. The streets and tall
buildings lie along the intervals of these
mounds and all about them.
One finds himself alternately in a
ihroned city and almost in the country as
ne follows one of the lines of street cars
There are houses and stores sided with
glazed tiles, generally blue, reminding
)ne of Lisbon, where the same style pre-
Eails quite extensively. The streets are
inely paved with square stone, the build
ngs fronting upon them are built with
put fear of earthquake, often three and
.our stories in height. Then, too, the lit
lie courts and spaces about the houses are
.ovely with green trees and flowers.
There are no wagons in use, but the
3rayage IL done with huge carts drawn by
1 single OK, bull or mule. The wheels of
.hese carts are something tremendous
.elloes over four inches deep and nearly as
ihick and spokes in proportion. They
ire very noisy and sleep is badly disturbed
n a room fronting on the street, for they
20 laundering and jolting all night long.
One will also see men driving cows with
nuZzled calves following them from place
% place, distributing milk, though there
ire peddlers of the lacteal fluid, mounted
IN horses aud mules, flying along every
morning.
TOUCH OF ALL NATIoNALITIEs.
Many of the streets are so narrow no
carriages are permitted to enter them
lfter o'clock in the morning. The shops
mostly patronized lie along these secluded
passages Generally the stores are bright
and attractive, patterns of Paris shops,
and many of them are kept by French
people. The city is most cosmopolitan
A touch of all nationalties is found here
Portuguese is the dialect OF the masses,
but several languages are spoken in every
shop.
The botanical garden is perhaps the
most interesting spot about Rio. 1t lies
,ome FIVE or more miles out, and is reached
DN JEhulNdl- hCit aiN bht hh'st ~" Va
palm trees in the world. They cross each
)ther at right angles-the rows-are in
pairs, with bases Of circular green swart
The vista down the rows is very imposing.
The trees are at least 100 feet high, and
perhaps much more, with diameter Of two
Or more feet. The green tops, the grace
.ul body tapering to the lofty submits,
he wonderful symmetry are all quite
perfect.
The garden has other beauties, lilies,
punches of bamboo very tall and vigorous,
4 cascade of water let down in sheets over
sigat walls, queer tree whose roots start
Dut above ground from one TO ten feet
nigh and strike down to the earth in close
proximity to each other, hedges Of a
strange plant, flowers, walks and foun-
aims. The garden is a favorite resort.
The languor of the tropics rests on the
people There is no hurry; every one has
time to spare. The stores are full of
Iuiet. Whether this inertia is peculiar to
he Latin race in sultry lstitudes it may
oe hard to tell Some Of the English and
American residents of these regions,
ihough long domiciled here. are yet full OF
snergy, while others have taken on the
habits of the people among whom they
ive-Rio Janeiro Cor. Kansas City jour
nal