The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-15
Across the Equator to South America.

Across the Equator to South America.
MONTE VIDEo, URUGUAY,
... APRIL "a, 1888.
Dear Neigh6or: ..
All in all, was considerably pleased
with the Cape Verde Islands. The
quiet, easy-going life of the inhab-
itants had something very attractive
in it for me, and the balmy atmos-
phere was so delightful that I was
loath to leave it when the day came to
re-cross the Atlantic and pass through
the torrid zone in order to reach this
end of America.
Neptune" did not come aboard our
ship as we entered the equatorial belt,
and so all the novices escaped the
rigors that would have attended a re-
ception of the water god. For days
and days together, while in the "dol-
drums" near the equator, the sea was
perfectly calm, and the heat was in
tense-the thermometer ranging from
800 to 1899 both day and night. Our
hottest time was on the 18th of March
Just when our friends at home were
shivering with the chill Of a prolonged
winter.
1t frequently happens that sailing
vessel is caught in the "doldrums"
and delayed for weeks, on account of
the prevailing calms, or tickle battling
winds. Most sailors dread this part
of the ocean, because there is really no
calculating when vessel (wholly de-
pendent on sails) can escape from it's be-
calming power.
Owing to the existence of yellow
fever in Rio de Janeiro, the Nipsic did
not put into that port, but cruised
along the Brazilian coast, and made
it's first stop in the harbor of Monte
Video, pronounced Monty Ve-da-o.)
The view of the city from the harbor
is a pleasant and inviting one. 1t
rises from the waters edge and slopes
gently back to the outlying hills of
the suburbs. Everything has a bright,
clean appearance, the buildings are Of
stone, or brick covered with "stucco,"
and they consequently contribute
much to the general brilliance OF
the spectacle.
The stores are very handsome, es-
peciaIly the jewelry bazaars: in win
dow displays they surpass the great
shops of New York, but in size they
are very insignificant. Diamonds are
the chief attraction, but as they are
the Brazilian stones they do not
amount to much in value. From the
mention of their cheapness it may be
safely surmised that they are worn to
a great extent by the "shoddy genteeP'
people of the city. The average sport
is, indeed, dazzling sight to behold,
for he can get up tremendous shine
for very little money.
Wealthy and fashionable folks in
Monte Video reside in suburban
"quintas" (keen-tas) during the sum-
mer months,-that is to say from the
first of December to the middle of April.
These quintas are marvels of architec.
tural beauty, and the large parks and
gardens that surround them transform
the scene into fairy village. Fancy,
| if you can, hedges of choice gerani.
ums, miniature valleys of lilies, hill
sides clothed with violets, and great
banks of tube roses 'Tis more than
fairy-land,-'tis very like a glimpse
into an imaginary Eden.
The quintas are upon the road lead
ing from the city out to the "Prado, u
or park, in which the chief attractions
for me are the avenues of eucalyptus
trees. The eucalyptus is very sym
metrical tree, and these grow to s
height of about eighty feet, where
their branches spread out and inter
lace till they vault with living greer
the beautiful promenade beneath.
The Cathedral is magnificent pile
of white marble, which glistens bril-
liantly as far as its massive form can bt
seen. I do not recall its dimension:
just now, but some idea of its immensi
ty can be gained when say it accom-
modates eighteen hundred people a
mass, or other general services, to say
nothing of the numerous shrines ant
confessionals scattered promiscuously
throughout the sanctuary. I visit thi!
Cathedral very often; to tell the truth
T drop in almost every evening just a
candle light, when weird stiffness
pervades the house, broken only by
some devout worshiper moving from
shrine to shrine, or when I, myself
creep softly through a dimly lighted
passageway. Attaining favorable
position for observation, I peer through
the semi-darkness at the reverentia
people as they cross themselves ane
humbly bow and pray to their patron
saints. It is solemn and impressive
despite the prejudice with which
have been accustomed to regard such
forms of worship.
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