persons of both sexes, who all seemed bent on amusement. It was truly a sans souci meeting. Seldom have I seen so much good taste as was displayed in the arrangements, or so good a tone of society. A good band of music, all Brazilians, played waltzes and marches alternately. I was told there were many distinguished persons, senators, representatives of the congress, &c., present.

These balls take place monthly, and are really what they profess to be, for the pleasure of meeting, innocent amusement, and recreation. All the expense that attends them is the music and lights; some few dulces were the only refreshments.

The language generally spoken was Portuguese, though some few of the ladies, and many of the gentlemen, spoke French. I was not much struck with the beauty of the ladies, though many were quite pretty. The great charm thrown over the whole was the unaffected. manners and naïveté exhibited by the whole company. I left the ball at a late hour, exceedingly gratified with my visit, and the politeness and kindness that had been shown us.

On the 27th of November the Relief arrived, after a passage of one hundred days from the United States, the longest ever made. On requisitions being made for her stores, I was greatly and vexatiously disappointed to receive a report that they required a survey, as all were considered defective, including even the bread and flour. This report, after a careful survey by seven officers, proved to be true. I had been informed before taking command of the squadron that these provisions had been inspected, and understood them to be in good order, and that they would last over a year.

Although this did not delay us, for the repairs in progress could not have been completed before we would be able to replace them, yet coming as it did with other vexations and delays, it was rather trying to the patience, and made it necessary to redouble our exertions.

The Relief was despatched at the earliest day possible, the 14th of December, in order to enable her to reach Orange Harbour, in Terra del Fuego, the place I had fixed upon as a rendezvous, supposing she would take at least fifteen days more than the other vessels to reach the place at the same time. The boats towed her down the harbour her a fair start.

and gave

Two of the officers of the squadron ascended the Sugar Loaf. Hearing the expression of my surprise that they should have performed such an undertaking without instruments, they immediately volunteered to make it again. Lieutenants Underwood and Dale were furnished with the requisite instruments, and the height was obtained by the sympiesometer, which agreed within a few feet of

that obtained by triangulation. The results will be found in the table.

Not having time to complete all they desired, some of the party remained over night to complete the interesting observations. Lieutenants Emmons and Underwood, on their first trip, obtained many interesting botanical specimens, among them Bromelias, Tillandsias, &c.

On the 16th, the Peacock, with the two tenders, sailed for the purpose of measuring the distance between Cape Frio and Enxados observatory. I had first determined to measure the distance by rocket-signals, as the distance, lying nearly east and west, rendered this method very applicable; but the duties I was engaged in, and the difficulties I might encounter from delays, prevented me from having recourse to it. I therefore adopted that by sound, wishing also to satisfy myself with what accuracy a length of this distance could be measured in this manner.

Captain Hudson was also ordered to examine the St. Thomas Shoal, to the northward of the Cape.

The manner of accomplishing the former duty was as follows. The three vessels were anchored in a triangle, with the light-house in sight, two vessels being in range with it, nearly east and west, towards the harbour of Rio. Each vessel firing four guns, the times of the flashes and reports of which were noted in the others. The angles were simultaneously observed between the objects, and the astronomical bearings taken. This gave the data to connect the survey with the light-house.

The vessels now changed their positions alternately, anchoring in range, and on astronomical bearings proceeding westward, until they reached the island of Enxados, where they again formed a triangle in connexion with the observatory.

Our repairs in Rio were extensive, particularly those on the Peacock. Among other things, the head of the mizzen-mast had to be cut off eighteen inches, in consequence of a defect in it, which it appeared had been filled up with rope-yarns and putty, and painted. over, at her outfit. The defects about the vessel were so glaring that in going to the high latitudes, it would have been impossible to secure the crew from great suffering and exposure. Even in the state in which the squadron was now put, I had every apprehension of the greatest disasters. The Peacock, particularly, was wholly unseaworthy with respect to such a cruise.

My object in giving these details is not to impute blame to any one, however satisfied I may be of the great neglect in all the outfits, but

to let the country know what were the difficulties we had to

encounter.

It is always difficult to calculate upon the delays that may occur in a foreign port, particularly when it is necessary to employ foreign workmen. Their hours, habits, and manner of working, are so different from our own, that great patience is required in those who employ them. The manner in which the calkers of Rio work, would draw crowds around them in one of our own cities; to see many of them engaged on a single seam on the outside of the vessel, striking the mallet at a signal given by their leader or overseer with his whistle, is amusing. They are generally blacks, (probably slaves,) and the leader a white man. The impression made upon us all was, that they were an indolent set; yet they are said to understand their business well. I cannot, however, bear favourable testimony to their work; the calking of my ship was certainly badly done.

The uncertainty of the length of time I should be detained, rendered it impossible for me to allow long absences from the ship. I was anxious to have made some measurements of the Organ Mountains, and that our parties should extend their researches beyond them to the Campos.

Dr. Pickering and Mr. Brackenridge succeeded in making the trip to the Organ Mountains on a botanical excursion; but the outfits. and duties connected with the vessels and observations, made it impossible for me to spare any officers to make the measurement of their height, or to go myself. These gentlemen set out, having taken passage in the usual freight-boat, (felucca rigged,) for Estrella, embarking their horses and mules in another. These boats are not decked, and are of sufficient tonnage to make them safe and convenient freight-boats. They generally have four or five slaves with a padron to manage them.

On leaving Rio they steered up the bay for the island of Gobernador, round which it is necessary to pass, on their way towards the river Anhumirim, aided by a fair breeze and fine weather. They found the sail up the bay extremely beautiful, the islands offering a constant source of interest and novelty. The mouth of the Anhumirim river was reached in about three hours. It was found about forty yards wide and quite shallow. The banks are an extensive. mangrove swamp. They passed up the river about eight miles, and reached the port of Estrella at midday, where they took their horses and pursued the main road to the mines, which crosses to the westward of the highest peak. The distance to the base of the mountain

from Estrella, is about ten miles, due north. The country is flat, with occasional undulations. About two miles from Estrella they came to a guard-house, where they were stopped. Their guide not being at hand, and not understanding the language themselves, they supposed their passports were demanded, and believing the reports to be true that we had all heard so often of the jealousy of the Brazilians in relation to the admission of foreigners into the interior, they concluded they were now to experience it. But on the guide coming up, the matter was soon arranged by the payment of a small tax, which was the only passport they found necessary. The ascent of the pass is made by a well-paved zigzag road. They soon reached the house of Padre Luiz, where they were kindly and hospitably received, and supper was supplied them from his scanty larder.

Padre Luiz's house was quite spacious: a long one-story building, containing under the same roof the stable and storehouse, as well as accommodations for travellers and the females of the family. The latter, agreeably to the custom of the country, were not seen, though known to exist. Cold and wet, our travellers were ushered into an apartment where there was neither floor nor fire, and in which there was a free circulation of air through the cracks and crevices in the walls. The roof, however, was tight, which was lucky, as it was raining hard. A little further insight and experience into the customs and comforts of the country, made them think that the accommodations here had been excellent. After a most unreasonable delay, coffee, a fowl, and rice were set before them, with much parade and ceremony. During the night they heard what was supposed to be the howling monkey, but upon inquiry it turned out to be a Brazilian toad, called in Brazil "the blacksmith," whose croak is said to resemble very much the sound of hammering on an anvil.

The next morning, understanding that they had been treated with luxuries and as persons of distinction, they told their host that they preferred the dish of the country," carne seca" and "farinha,” which, with the addition of a few eggs and a cup of coffee, made an excellent meal, and was quickly served.

They rode this day about twenty miles beyond the Organ Mountains, the extent to which their jaunt reached. On their way, they met vast numbers of mules heavily laden. The roads were generally good, and very little expense would have made them excellent for carriages.

At Padre Coneas', at the top of the pass, they found a native figtree, of enormous size, with numerous parasitical plants upon it. It

was to them quite a novelty from its low branches, which extended hori zontally and covered a space of one hundred and forty feet in diameter.

After leaving the Estrella Pass, the descent was very gradual, the route lying among the mountains. Crossing the river Paibanha, they reached a hamlet beautifully situated on the brow of a hill, and commanding an extensive view of the country. Here they found the place well suited to their employment of making collections of plants, and resolved to stop. Their host kept a small store, and had a German for salesman, who was greatly delighted at finding that Mr. Brackenridge could speak his language. He paid them great attention, and provided amply for their wants.

They were gratified by the rich botanical field that was open to them. Among the plants, or trees, were Cupheas, with deep purple flowers, and others with lilac; Lobelias fifteen feet high, with spikes of blue flowers three feet long; and Acacias in full flower. Cyrtopodium Andersonii grew on the rocks in bunches, &c. Several trees of the Araucaria Brasiliensis, from seventy to eighty feet high, were found in the valley, which Mr. Brackenridge succeeded in climbing, and obtained two handsome cones. The rivers were also searched for shells, but the water was too high to afford success.

Returning at dark they found the German had provided supper, which was soon served. It consisted of bean soup, Indian bread, fried jerked beef, and sausages: they had the satisfaction of eating the meal on their knees, for there was no table, but one spoon, and only one knife for three persons.

Having loaded themselves with specimens, they concluded to return, their ideas of life in tropical climates having undergone much change in this short time, from the erroneous belief they had entertained that industry was not necessary, that the inhabitants were surrounded by luxuries, having every delicacy imaginable, and that the only reason they were not advanced in agriculture and the arts was from the idleness engendered by the enervating influence of the climate. The fatigue and endurance necessary to overcome the actual state of things, was least of all expected; and such a thing as suffering from cold, even on elevated spots, had not been dreamed of.

The common food of the country was found to be ground manioc and jerked beef, which proved palatable after their fatigues. Their guide, however, who was a New Hampshire man, complained much of his privations.

They had seen the Mato Virgen, or primeval forest, and instead of finding it, as had been represented, beset with difficulties in penetrating it, they were surprised to find it more accessible than some of the