islands, scattered over its surface in every diversity of shape
nd exhibiting every variety of tint that an exuberant and
ce iveTe ; egetT r . IS CapabIe °f affording ~ L e t him conand
b e tu f f iT b n iSlandS and beautiful shrubs, not plantetd0 bbey S°m farinn gbeudt wsictahttered by
the easy and hberal hand of nature, as completely to be concealed
m their-verdant covering-Let him figure to himself
this beautiful sheet of water, with its numerous islands, to be
encompassed on every side by hills of a moderate height, rising
in gradual succession above each other, all profusely clad
m lively green, and crowned with groupes of the noblest trees,
white their shores are indented with numberless inlets, shooting
their arms across the most delightful rallies, to rrieet the
murmuring nils, and bear their waters into the vast and common
reservoir of all—In short, let him imagine to himself a
succession of Mount Edgecombes to be continued along the
shores of a magnificent lake, not less in circuit than a hundred
miles ; and having placed these in a climate wh'ere spring for
ever resides, in all the glow of youthful vigour, he will still
possess only a very imperfect idea of the magnificent scenery
displayed within the capacious harbour of Rio de Janeiro ■
which, as an harbour, whether it be considered in the light
of affording security and convenience for shipping, for its
locality of position, or fertility of the adjacent eountry, may
justly be ranked among the first of naval stations.
I f then the natural beauties of Rio de Janeiro are, in its
present, state, so very enchanting, how much more so must
they have appeared at a time when this arm of the sea was a
lake of pure transparent water? That such it once was
little doubt can be entertained. Its ancient barrier having
given way to the pressure of the water within, the more solid
parts of the fragments, in- being forced into the sea, still remain
as a bar before the entrance of the harbour, on which
the depth of water does not exceed from seven to ten fathoms,
whilst close, to both the inner and the outer margin the depth
is not less than eighteen fathoms. Part of the foundation,
indeed, appears in pointed rocks above the surface of the sea,
towards the western extremity of the bar.
If the Portugueze of Rio have done but little towards improving
nature, they are entitled at least to the negative
merit of not having much disfigured her. The point of situation
for building the town is well chosen out of a great number
of good ones that presented themselves. The principal buildings
which have been erected, though not elegant, are free
at least from extravagant whims, and are by no means ill
suited to their respective situations. A fortress, however regular,
is far from being an unpleasant object in a landscape;
but when its lines are carried over the inequalities of a broken
mount, whose, sides are fringed with wood, it frequently
unites to grandeur no inconsiderable share of picturesque
beauty. Almost every eminence in the vicinity of the town
of Rio is crowned with a castle or a fort, a church or a convent
; and many of the islands on the expansive harbour are
enlivened and ornamented by buildings of a similar nature.
Not one of the numerous islets were disgraced by such ridiculous
and uncouth edifices, the whimsies of a sickly taste,
as distort and disfigure those once lovely spots on the beautiful
lake of Keswick, and which are now a reproach to