The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1901-08-21
Letter from DR. Chester.

After smooth and uneventful voyage of fourteen
days from New York, had our first sight of Brazil
except an occasional glimpse of uninhabted coast,
from the harbor of Pernambuco 1t was too rough
there for the passengers to go ashore but we en-
Joyed the sight of land and houses even in the dis
lance and especially the replenshng of our store of
fresh meats, which had all reached the "embalmed'
stage several days before When the present steam
snip line, which has monopoly of both trade and
travel with the south Brazil ports has some com
petition the company will doubtless be more exacng
of the steamer officials in the matter of looking after
their rergerators, and also take some steps towards
diminishing the number and variety of vermin OH
their vessels; especially the rats which deprecated
on all OF us more or less and on to the extent of
eating up two pairs OF shoes and carrying several
articles OF wearing apparel down into the hold
Our next call was at Bahia where we found our
selves anchored on Sunday morning and where was
met and taken ashore by Mr.. Wadde of the North
ern Presbyterian Mission, in time to preach for his
congregation This my first introduction to the
Brazilian missionary work. There was a congrega-
ton OF about seventy-ive, about four of them being
white and the rest varying from the slightest tinge of
yellow to coal black This | was told is about the
status as to color of the people in this particular sec
ton of Brazil. The African here has his full rights
in every respect and the unhindered opportunity OF
showing what he is capable of He has hardly had
time to show it yet it is only about eighteen years
since he fully liberated The church at Bahia
and the region around about is growing rapidly in
numbers and the school work, conducted in a modest
but most efficient way by Miss Hough is prospering
Bahia is built high bluff, and the main business
street reached by ascending two hundred feet from
the wharf in an elevator. Its general appearance is
more ent1c1ng from the steamer anchorage mile ont
than from any view gets on the streets 1t has
well deserved fame for its very large and most de
lic1ouSly Favored oranges. On the eally morning of
the third of July we came in sight of the most pic
turesque and exquisitely beautiful of all earthly har-
bors, that of Rio de Janeiro. | do not know its di-
mensions only that the coast that encrcles it is many
miles in extent and that the journey across the bay
by steamer is one hour long. The space on which
the city is built between the water and the point
where the mountain sides become steep for habi-
taon, very narrow the houses being strung out in
long line at the foot of the hills These rise
precipously in all manner of quaint shapes many Of
them being needle pointed and others shaped like a
sugar loaf. | shall not describe the city as | was
only there few hours and only saw the business
portion of it. / was met here by DR.. Allyn who has
since kindly done my talking for me- and otherwise
relieved me of all care and embarrassment In the
afternoon we went UP to Petropolis, named for Don
Pedro who had his principal palace there and where
many wealthy people of Rio spend their summers
and their nights all the year round 1t lies in
lovely nest of hills, has many beautiful and costly
residences, and is the principal "show place of
Brazil" / shall postpone the description of it also
however until after the more satisfactory view
hope to get of it on my return.
Leaving there by night train, on a Pullman made
in Wilmington, Delaware, and pulled by Baldwin
locomotive, we reached Sac Pauo at 10 A. NJ yes