RIO DE JANEIRO.
C H A P . IV.
RIO DE JANEIRO.
Singular Entrance into, and Description of, the magnificent Harbour o f Rio de
Janeiro— The City of St. Sebastian— The Aqueduct— The public Gardens——
Streets and Shops o f St. Sebastian— Jealous Conduct of the Portugueze—
Climate and troublesome Insects— Indolence and improper Conduct of the Priesthood
Singular Custom o f the Ladies o f Rio— O f those o f the Convent of
Santa Clara— O f the Ladies o f Liverpool— Dress and Character— Religious
Ceremonies and Processions— Neglected State of the Country in the
Neighbourhood of the Capital.
T he island of St. Jago, in the miserable state in which we
found it in the year 1792, affording little else than a few fruits
and a scanty supply of muddy water, held out no inducement
for the prolonging of our stay beyond the time that was
absolutely necessary to prepare for the continuance of the
voyage. Accordingly we weighed anchor on the 7th of Qc-
tober and, stretching to the south-westward with a brisk
tra.de wind, just skirted the southern limit of the Mar do Sargasso
(or sea of sca-wceds) of the Portugueze, sometimes
called the Grassy Sea. We now saw only a few scattered
plants; but on the return voyage, by keeping farther to the
westward, the surface of the sea for several days was literally
covered with them. The extent of this surface varies accord-
R I O DE J A N E I R O . 73
ing to the strength and direction of the prevailing winds and
currents; but what may properly" be called the Grass sea is
comprehended between the 18th and 32d parallels of northern
latitude, and between the 25th and 40th meridians of western
longitude. The common opinion that the myriads of
plants floating on this expanse are torn from the shores of the
gulf of Mexico, and wafted by the stream which incessantly
flows out of it to the northward, would seem to be one of
those vulgar errors that has obtained general currency by
gratuitous assent. If this species of Fucus be a native of the
gulf, which I am not competent to decide, it would be found
rather on the banks of Newfoundland and the coast of North
America, towards which the stream flows, than on the sea of
Sargasso, a situation to which it could not have been brought
either by wind or current. In fact, the plant has neither
roots nor fibrils of any kind to indicate that it ever was attached
to rocks or shores, but its central stem buried in the
midst of its leafy branches makes it sufficiently evident that
it vegetates while floating on the surface of the fathomless
deep. Some of the plants are many feet in diameter, others
only a few inches; all appear in a growing state; the globose
berries are in some plants green, in others red. If taken out
of the water the plant becomes flaccid, and in the course ot
twenty-four hours turns brown or black.
In returning home, the curious passenger cannot fail to
derive great amusement in examining the bushes of fucus,
when crossing the sea of Sargasso. The naturalist in every plant
will find a great variety of marine insects and worms, some
naked, and others with testaceous coverings. A minute crab,
L