Hunting a home in Brazil

by James McFadden Gaston

While Rome is known as the city of seven hills, this designation might also be most appropriately applied to Rio de Janeiro, as her hills are the greatest attractions of the place, affording a delightful variety of scenery. Leaving the heights we may descend to the plains, and note some of the public establishments of most interest.

In the central portion of the broad level plain, upon which the business population of Rio is located, the Quartel des Municipals Permanentes is found, with all the structures and conveniences for administering the affairs of the city.

The public offices of the ministers and officials of government of the empire are situated upon the western border of an open space, called the Praca de Acclamacão, or the Campo de Santa Anna. On the south side of this space is the neat and yet modest-looking Congress Hall of the deputies of the empire. On the north side, in connection with the densely populated portion of the city, stands the large museum, of which mention has already been made at a former date. The street running to the east of this campo has upon the opposite side a large number of stores, with several buildings, in which there are apartments for the public officials of the government.

In the middle of this grand plaza stands a large opera house, which is the great resort of the common people throughout the city.

This magnificent piece of ground, commonly called the campo, lies quite unimproved as yet; and the washerwomen of the vicinity congregate here to use the fountains of water with which it is supplied, and to spread out their clothes upon the green grass that covers its surface. It will ere long receive the attention of the authorities, and be laid out in walks and decorated with flowers and evergreens, and must become a very attractive resort for the pent-up population of this metropolital rendezvous of all the nations of earth. It is only recently that much interest has been manifested in ornamental public grounds, and the Botanic Gardens, with other more central spots of land, already show the taste of a progressive administration, in beautifying and adorning the rural loveliness of nature by the chaste hand of art.

The most elaborate improvement to be seen in the city of Rio is the exquisitely executed equestrian statue of Dom Pedro Primeira, which stands in the middle of the Praca da Constituicão. The first Emperor is represented in full military costume on horseback, and with the scroll of the constitution raised aloft in one hand, while the other grasps the reins of the bridle.

The pedestal has upon its four sides, respectively, four pairs of Indians, with animals and reptiles, representing the regions named upon the corresponding faces. This portion of the structure has inscribed upon it, likewise, the principal rivers of the empire, arranged with relation to the localities indicated; and thus affords a historic picture of the country, with its geographical features, brought into one interesting group.

The base is made of neatly-hewn granite, and comports admirably with the massive elegance of the whole device. There are two small reservoirs of water, with a “jet d’eau” at some distance from the statue, upon each side of the square; and the artificial vines and foliage, with colored flowers, look so true to nature, that persons are very prone to suppose they have grown in the water. The grounds are laid out with excellent taste, and enclosed by a neat iron fence, giving an air of completeness and uniqueness that is eminently becoming to the subject.

Notwithstanding this handsome testimonial to the first Emperor indicates that he had endeared himself to his people, so as to make them feel pride in honoring his memory, yet his policy was so contrary afterwards to the wishes of his subjects, that he was under the necessity of abdicating his throne, and left the country to end his days in Portugal.

His lineal descendant, the present Emperor, succeeded him, and entered upon the exercise of his high functions, having a regent to officiate in the performance of the responsible public duties of the empire at the outset, and subsequently administering all his business with the most enlightened regard for the interests of his people.