Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-11-11
For the Ellsworth American. !
Life in Rio de Janeiro.


Almost the first thing that attracts the at
tention Of the stranger as he approaches
the spacious harbor of RIO de Janeiro is the
Sugar Loaf, which rises cut Of the water
forming almost perpendicular pyramid
twelve hundred and seventy feet high, and
which forms one side of the west entrance of
the harhor The land on either side Of the
bay is high and mountainous the bay of Rio
Is one of the mos, magnificent bsrbors in the
world, being twenty five miles long and
from one TO eight miles vide. with sufficient
], deep water where the fleets OF the world
could ride safely a, anchor Guard boa,s are
stationed slong the front part of the city 10
prevent smuggling. How much smuggling
itis extra precau,ion prevents, one is a, a loss
10 determine at any rate j, is a certain pro-
lection 10 shipping and gives employment to
a large number OF officials who otherwise
would cucumber the Custom House in
which there IS already an o,er-stocked num-
ber. Rio affords few facilities for vessels TO
discharge their csrgoes at the wharfs.
Mostly ali oargoes are discharged into
lighters and taken 20 the consignee's place
OF business. after going to the custom
house dock for inspection bv the custom
officials Flour. ice. rice and bran eargoes
are discharged at the docks. only in the
siekly season. February. March aud April
are the months 10 which the yellow fever
prevails more or less every year. when no
vessels excepting coasting vessels are al
lowed 10 come TO the dock The city of
k'o Dc Janeiro proper commences two and
one bali miles from the entrance Of the har-
bor aud Is situated on the west side of the
hay on point Of fat land at the foot Of
mountain and numerous hills. The south
crn portion Of the city is situated on hill
almost too steep 10 ascend IL has water
front Of three miles. The population of
tins city has been yariou,ly estimated from
10000 to 100000; strange TO say there
never has been any regular census Of the
inhabitants taken. The method in process
Is so unreliable that no correct estimate OF
the actual number can be arrived al. the
best authority placing the population at
5000 to 315 900. /, would be a Difficult,
matter 10 decide IN what portion Of the cit,
dwell the rich and the poor. the, are so
mixed together. The suburbs Of the cit,
are occupied exclusively by the wealthy peo-
pie, where one can see some fine residences
10 the northeastern part Of the city may be
found, more particularly, the poorer class,
Who are crowded together in small compart-
meufs and live, OF rather exist, in filth and
wretchedness. l. cannot be ,aid. correctly
speaking. taai the people are what YOU can
call lndolent, although ;hey seem TO be en-
dowed with faeult, for idleness, produced,
undoubtedly, by the holiness Of the climate
II cannot be expected where a people live
principally on rice. as the poor do here, that
they viii manifest any great degree of
energy or Thrift. The palsces Of the rich in
The suburbs are spacious and they live in
prneel, style; the streets are mostly mar
row. the principal one is the Rad de Oyrr-
couT, where the wealth OF the diamond fields
may be seen IN the shop windows and the
beauty Of Rio Oh the promenade. The pub
Ic parks are the Black Horse square and
the BItannical Gardens The former is
situated in the centre Of the city and is not
much TO boast Of. The Britannica Gardens
is situated in the southern portion of the
city adjoining the waite, and is large and
magnificent place whose shores are washed
by the waters of the southern portion of the
great bay, while tie sea breezes from the
southern ocean cool the atmosphere and
around Rio. The hotels here need TO be
remodeled before they have the name Of
hotel affixed to them. A good dinner NAV
be had at the best hotel for . l-2 10 3
milteis which is Sl2j You can get a great
deal better dinner in New York or London
for the same money. In the schools. If you
have means 10 pay for schooling. good
education can be obtained. There is no
common tchool system although there are
few schools where poor children have an
opportunity Of getting the rudimenis of an
education. This opportunity is sadly neg
lected by the poorer classes who seem to
have no desire to bring their children into
better condition than their own
THE CHURCH.
L. Il l..d