The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-08

The boat passes close to "Goviner's Is
land" which is one vast plantation, twelve
miles long by six miles wide, with two or
three little villages upon il and a popula-
ton OF nearly four thousand. A little
farther is Panqueta island, covered with
beautiful villas and perhaps 1,50U Williams
kWretched pun IA favorite summer resi-
dence for business men who cannot afford
the extra time and money required for Pc
tropolIs.
From our starting point to the Maua
landing pier, the distance is only twelve
miles, and we make it in an hour. Then
we enter train of short old fashioned cars,
and steam. bump, jolt away over ten miles
OF swampy country. brilliant with many
hued orchids and the flame-colored leaves
or the flower of the Lent tree to the
loot OF the Sierra. This famous but most
uncomfortable railway was built about
forty years ago, under a concession to the
Vlsconde de Maua, hence its name; and in
1883 it was sold to the Princecpo do Grao
Para company. At a point called Riaz da
Serra-the present site Of the government
powder mills-the train is broken up into
sections for the ascent. 1t Is operated
by the RiggenDach system for four or five
miles over the steepest grade. The altitude
attained is about 5000 feet, and although
80 ancient and uncomfortable, the road Is
really creditable piece of engineering. 1t
follows the outline of the valley and the
old macadamized road, and near the sum-
init is viaduct rs feet high and 1877 feet
long, which makes ones hair stand on ends
to cross. At all times of the year
THE VIEWS FROM THE CAR WINDOWS
are enchanting. Looking far below one
can see the steel rails by which he has as
cended crawling up tue heights like a SER
pant, and spread out like map is Rio de
Janerio, twenty five miles away-the incom-
parable bay, the low country between one
tangled mass of flowers and verdure, the
familiar peaks of Tjuca Corcovado and
the ugar-loaf-bordered by the ocean
STRETCHING to the horizon on one side aud
sky-piercing peaks on the other.
Arrived at Petropolis station one may al
most imagine himself IN New York city, SO
beset is he by vociferous hack drivers.
There are number of good hotels to the
town, each one of which sends carriage
TO the station for guests.
Petropolis is built in large, broken val
ley in that part of the Organ mountains
known as the Sierra da Estrella. II is
barely 5000 feet above the sea, yet so cool
and braciDg is the atmosphere that morn
lngs and evenings the semblance of WOOD
ire is welcome, and light blanket is
needed on the bed at night-while the
| orange groves are golden with fruit and
flowers riot everywhere. Its population
varies with the time of year, from abou
1000 regulac inhabitants to perhaps 10000
during 'the season" Through the midst
OF the town runs river, the Piabanha,
bordered by rows of willow trees outlining
carriage drives and friuged with dropping
lilies, whose great white flowers perfume
the air. 1t is shallow stream, now rip
ping quietly along its deep artificial chan
! mel, but they tell US that after one night OF
rain during the wet season it often bursts
all bounds and overflows the roads for
miles. Other pretty mountain streams
shaded by trees and fringed with flowers
ripple through the irregularly built-uI
streets of the village, and add much to its
romantic beauty. There are some very
handsome residences, and some that art
more unique than beautiful; while
ODDLY PAINTED CoUNTRYHoUsRs
are strewed away in romantic hooks of thu
adjacent hills and valleys. In the centre
of the town is the Emperor's palace
mass Of yellow wall looming up amids
beautiful surroundings or roses and lawns
1t is neither 80 extensive nor snowy as tht
palace of Sac Christavoa, but it is said Il
be much more comfortable. Its grounds
are laid out according to French taste, al
are most Of the public and private gardens
of Brazil-with distressing characteristic
of patchwork regularity in circles, square
and triangles, the favorite border for theSt
flower beds being inverted glass bottles
During the empire the palace and grounds
were always open TO visitors whenever tn
imperial family were absent and attendant
showed one around with the greatest civil
ity.
Long after Dom Pedro l. had selectet
Petropolis for future summer residence
lin 1S43, 1 think, it was decided to estab
fish German colony here, and about 3, 90
Teutons were brought over and located
many of them finding employment on tn
old macadamized road. Two thousand o
more defendants of those first families
yet live in the neighborhood of Petropolis
culuivating small farms and vineyards, an
in strolhng among the fair. haired. blue
eyed, red-checkered cottagers-so differen
from the Brazilians- one imagines himsel
In the yine-clad districts of Germany.
The longer northerner stays here, tn
more he wonders why his wealthy country
men continue to flock, year after year Xix
! sheep after bell-wether, 10 the same oil
: places-Newport, Nahaut. Saratoga, Cap
Msy-when for less money they might liv
in paradise, in one of these rose-em bow
cred, palm-shaded chalets, amid the mos
) magnificent scenery on earth. Our mid
summer months are the coolest and health
lest time of the year in Brazil, and no
that there is direct line of steamers b.
tween New York and Rio, the four week
, voyage is as easy as delightful.
FANNIE B. WARD.