Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-06
VIEW PROM vrcroRt, HIIA-

VIEW FROM VICTORIA HIIL-
make by hand. someNhat resembling the finest
Iorchon. and the feather flowers that are
peddled about the streets m glas.-covered
boxes These flowers are peculiar to Brazil
and Tor many wears we're peculiar 20 Bahia
being made by nobody else but the nuns 81
santa Catarina, who derived considerable reve-
nue. from their sale. but in cour-. of time the
art spread beyond the convent walls and is now
carried on 10 some extent both in Para and
Elo. The flowers are constructed entirely
from the feathers Of birds in their natural col
ors. IL Is claimed. but though Brazilian birds
have more varied and brilliant pIumage than
those of any other part Of the world I am in
clined to think that some Of these tints are due
to the dse pot. At any rate the flowers are
perfect limitations of nature. exact in every
detail that you may put cluster Of them beside
another from the garden and find il impossible
TO tell which is which. except by the sense Of
smell or touch. There are hyacinths and violets
In their delicate blues and purples. pansies in
endless variety. roses. lilies carnations passion
flowers. orange blossoms and all the gorgeous
blooms OF the tropics. OF course they are ex-
pensive and some of the bouquets are rendered
more costly by tiny humming birds suspended
over them by invisible wircs-the winged gems
for which this country is famous preserved by
taxidermy.
THE NORTHERN EXTREMITY OF THE CITY.
The third tramway line leads along the semi
circular shore Of the bay to the northern ex-
tremity of the city called Montserrat IL passes
the Carmelite Convent. the summer homes q
the wealthy Creole and Portuguese citizens the
lepers hospital, the yellow fever hospital and a
picturesque row of tumble-down Notifications
On the extreme point Of the tongue Of land
called Montserrat stands little church. which
the Portuguese friars built more than two hun
dred and fifty wears ago. The inscription over
Its doorway is still legible despite sea gales and
equatorial rains-"A Virgin fol concebida sem
peccado original'-and its mushroom-shaped
altar of carved mahogany is worth coming far
10 see. The view OF Bahia and its surroundings
from this point is truly magnIfcent-the an
tque town, with its queer buildings struggling
up and down the hillsides. the numerous grass
grown forts. the varied shipping the palm
covered island of Itaparica at the white-capped
pillows beyond. and ON the other hand a limit
less sea of verdure stretching to the horizon.
Returning 70 town we may leave the tram and
make several short excursions on foot. In the
upper city there is the old cathedral which IL
said 10 be the largest and most costly church
edifice in Brazil. and close by il is the archi-
episcopal palacea and seminary. Then there ID the
Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceicao ON the
Rua da Praya, which almost built in
Europe, its stones having been all cut. fitted
and numbered on the other side Of the Atlantic
The governors palace, too substantial struc-
ture of ancient date, fronting small open
square-deseryes a visit. "govonor" as
now understood, is a bran-new institution in
Brazil, You know. for in the DAYS Of the empire
each province directly governed by a presi-
dent appointed by Dom Pedro. The emperor's
rhoice was by no means restricted TO the prov
ince TO be governed. and the stranger president
enjoyed all the powers and perquisites Of Q
viceroy in colonial times. FANNIE b. WARp.