EMBASSY TO CHINApaved,
with the addition of footpaths, f ani^rs the narrowness
of some. ofythem proves a convenience* in
such a hot climate, on account of the shades In the
sqilarto'are refreshing: fountains, whph ) supply;the
water conveyed to them by an aqueduct1 of considerable
length? i for, 'notwithstanding!its name,"the:town of R«p
has mscs .river,' close- to it, of any mote p This aqueduct is
carried, oyer. Wallies by a double row of arches; one placed
aboYe another : . it as a structure Snfoinuch ornament to
the i town ? r tho, perhaps, tha ' Water might as (effectually
be brought to it by pipes.' .The. present aqueduct does
not.imply an ignorance,. among the Portugueze, of the
hydrostatic daw, that water al ways; arises« too its level;
no: more do the many structures of the rsameikindoiear
Rome; afford: jtotUjpr<wnds>far suctosuspicicm with ’a*»-
spec! to the ancient Romansaiyfur > sheyooand magnifi-
eefecgr-wete,i asPjwelbas utility^ the; objectst of; public
works, o A guard constantly attends, at the fountains
throughout Riolto regulate'the distribution of thewater,
which, probably, is scanty, as there are people, a flong
time waiting with buckets for their; share,; A suffi-
cient proportion lof the water fropr the fountain upon
% quay»; 'opposite «the palace,^isvnIl«ttedfifor:fthe use of
the shipping, and i® conveyddt to ^©tcas-ks, remaining
in the boats, by means of a woollen or canvas tube,
called a hose^istretiehiug from the fountain to? the cask-
3ir Erasmus Gower, observing that the water was re-
EMBASSY TO CHINA* 157
markahlytgoöd, and .kept &©ttêr at «sea than any others
attributed the cohtrkry 'opinion offiaptain Cook to some *
accidental impurities remaining, in »the casks hé filled
ihThe shops of Rto.welre of .Manchester mapufoet
tut.es, and other British (goods* even to „English prints,
both jjserious ;and carieaturèi ;A Borbuguezef• merchant
sfettledrhere* j reflecting on,, the. advantages gained by the
country, which’ had furnished’those supplies,ifobsCrved,
that phe (prosperity bhth. o f .'Portugal and dtaMependerif
’ cieis ;fedoündeff nhieflyj to thejbenefit of Englkhd; The
benefit)"probably, has 'beénrreeiprbcali; for .every thingjt
at lèa&t at Rio, denoted; the thriving jconditionriof the
placé;,’ The exterior < appearanceof. individuals,was that
nf. rasp-and Gomfort ;i their dwellings,(for/ the most part,
were in good condition; manynsfithem large, and. .gene*
rally (Welf Calculated for .theelimatej ■ the,1 magazines and
market« Well stored.With merchandise; new buildings
going on o f .a public and private i nature; ^tradesmen
busily; employed; and, beside Itbe aqueduct arid fouto
tains,« already .mehtioned, with wJiich the (city .Vas
adorned, it had lalso some public walks; ■ and • upon, thé
beach,' opposite the palace,, was;-buili aispaci®us: ;,quay nf
granite, n f which material, ifotmd;indeed upon the- spot?,
many, more of the principabbuildings weres,®o'nstructed.
This . place IS’ said, hoW.eVer, to be unhealthy ;< and
instances of (longevity ^are veryrare'. -The Unhealthiness
Rio de
Jaiieiro.