The Republican journal., 1892-09-22

year and heavy showers fall in the after
part of the day, accompanied by terrific
thunder and lightning, which render the
nights cool and pleasant but reduce the
unpaved streets to reeking quagmires
Though variable, the climate of Para is
not unhealthy-for South America. TO
the credit of the zipalotes be it said that
yellow fever has never yet invaded the
place; but tertianas, Intermittent fever)
hardly less to be dreaded, invariably fol-
low the nine months rainy season and
smallpox is present the year around, Of
ten in epidemic form.
The general appearance of Para is like
that of most Brazilian cities-with some
points of difference. There are the same
white washed or pale tinted walls, with
red tiled roofs, narrow streets laid out on
the checker board plan and Vulnerable
churches and plazas. But these public
squares, unlike any others have seen, do
not appear to be used by the populace,
being painless and overgrown with rank
GRASS. The houses, too, have their pecu-
liarities. All are large and many are very
pretty, covered with blue and white tiles
and surrounded by palm trees and strange
shrubs. Here the distinguishing feature
is the veranda, as in Bahia it is the ialouse
OF latticed balcony, every house being sur
rounded by them, outside as we'll as in.
"A veranda inside the house?" you say.
Y es; because the house is built around a
patio, OF central court yard, and the wide
veranda that surrounds its inner walls
overlooks this blooming garden and is
about the most important part of the es-
Enlistment. Here the children play, and
my lady lounges with her mandolin and
needle work during all hours of the day,
and the master and his friends EN- Joy their
afternoon coffee and cigarettes when
showers drive them to shelter. Always
some part of the veranda, or an apart
ment opening upon it, is utilized as din
ing room for the true Portuguese Brazil
ian, however Indifferent he may be to ven
tilation in his sleeping quarters, will not
feed in close confinement. but insists up
on fresh air and plenty of it with his
meals. Another improvement is notice
able here, in that the dark alcoves and
windowlesS bedrooms of Rio dc ,Janeiro
and other cities are not i'll vogue and the
largest and airicSt rooms of the house are
used to sleep i'll. Beds, as we understand
them, are unknown, but hammocks are
hung everywhere, in parlors and halls and
dining rooms and along the whole length
of the veranda. to catch every breeze that
IS blowing, SO that any number of uneX-
pected guests can be ''slung up in a
single house without Inconvenience En-
cept in the most expensive residences the
front rooms only are ceiled, and latticed
windows are much more common than
glass. Another thing that strikes the
stranger is the peculiar appearance of the
people as compared with those he has
seen in other parts OF the country. The
regularly descended Portuguese and Afri-
cans ot course do not differ greatly from
/ their brethcren and sisters in Other parts
but they are few here, while the Indian
race predomnates. In Para, Us i'll no
other city. the aborginals OF Brazil may
be seen. both in pure blood and III every
possible degree Of admixture with whites
and blacks in every strata ot society
They occupy the highest government
positions, Own the grandest mansions an,
finest estates. and figure as capitalist an,
servants, priests and politicians. soldiers
sailors, professional men, street peddlers
| belle and beauN. The most beautiful
woman III the city, wife Of nabob VIII,
rides in an emblazoned carriage. is said tt
he of alf and alt Negro and Indian
blood. Formerly ladies used to pay thei
visits and 60 TO church IN a hammock I'll,
two ends being carried by men servant:
who swung the precious burden between
them; but now coaches and carriages ar
common, FANNIE Is. WARD.