Among the many vehicles seen in the streets of Rio de Janeiro I observed nothing like the buggy which is in common use in the United States; and the two-wheeled, one horse tilbury is so much better adapted to narrow streets and short turns that it is not likely that it will find a rival soon in the four-wheeled buggy of modern invention.
Omnibuses or “diligencia” are seen moving to and fro with great activity, and this progressive feature of a business people is evidently in successful operation, with the usual advantages accruing to a large number of customers, over that of carriages and tilburys, which are only hired by the few for transportation to a special point. The large number of negroes that are seen upon the streets, both male and female, with the marks of tattooing upon their cheeks, and in the persons of the females with fancy figures on their arms, indicates that the African slave-trade has been carried on with this country very actively at a comparatively recent period. Most of them appear strong and active, while many are not exceeding twenty-five years of age. The men were employed in such business as we might expect slaves to do, but most of the women were selling fruit or trafficking in other little dainties, as if they might be free.
I learn that it is a common thing here for a number of slaves to hire their time, and form a combination together to work out their freedom. It is decided by lot who is first made free, and the order in which the others are found, and yet all are bound to remain together and contribute all that is received into the common treasury, until the last is liberated.[[3]] This is among the men, and I don’t know that any such arrangement has been adopted by the women.
Upon returning to our boat, we had a view of the line of ferry boats, which has been introduced here, upon the same plan as that adopted at New York and elsewhere in the United States. A gentleman from North Carolina named Rainey organized a company here some years ago, and has brought out two double-enders from New York for this service, which run from the city proper across to Nitherohi and other points. Their trips are made with great regularity every half hour, accommodating a large number of people.
Wednesday, September 13, 1865.
After returning from the city last night, my overcoat was found comfortable, and a blanket was used for covering during the night. The temperature this morning is very pleasant upon the water, it being 72° by Fahrenheit’s thermometer.
Having learned from Phipps & Co. that a vessel was expected to leave to-morrow for Baltimore, I made an addition to a letter written on yesterday to my wife, and putting a United States postage stamp upon it, I gave it to these gentlemen to be forwarded by the captain of the vessel.
Upon inquiry for letters at the post-office this morning, I was handed a long list of written names with the simple announcement “English” by the clerk. This implied that these persons had letters in the office, which had come through English mail, but most of the names were either Portuguese or Spanish, and very few really English. My own not being on the list, it was inferred that no letter had arrived for me. As I had left home upon the 26th of June, and gone by way of New Orleans to New York, occupying an entire month before leaving the latter port, there had evidently been sufficient time for any communication that might have been sent direct, to reach this city in advance of my arrival.
I must encounter many difficulties in my intercourse with the people of this country, from the ignorance of their language, and my objects in the line of business will be to some extent embarrassed; but there being a good many people here who speak both English and Portuguese, it may be in my power to obtain an interpreter when needed.
Having letters from Colonel A. V. Brumly to Mr. M. Tweedle and Mr. Robert Habersham, who I expected to find employed in the engineer department of the Dom Pedro II. Railroad Co., I repaired to their building, and was pleased to find that Major Ellison, chief engineer,[[4]] and his brother, also employed in this office, were both from the United States. I learned that Mr. Tweedle had left the road and the country long since, and that Mr. Habersham was in charge of the construction section sixteen miles above the terminus of the present track. As I wish to see the country along the line of this road and on its projected route, I hope at a future day to make a visit to Mr. Habersham.