the name of one of the provinces into which Brazil, the Portuguese portion of South America, is divided, and by far the most important, in consequence of the discovery and improvement of the gold and diamond mines about 300 miles to the north-west. The diamond mines are the exclusive property of the crown, as well as a fifth part of the gold. The people have of late begun to manufacture many necessary articles for their own consumption. The soil is luxuriant, producing spontaneously most kinds of fruit; and the ground is covered with one continued forest of trees of perpetual verdure, which, from the exuberance of the soil, are so entangled with briers, thorns, and underwood, as to form a thicket absolutely impenetrable, except by some narrow foot paths, which the inhabitants have made for their own convenience. The woods are extremely fragrant, from the many aromatic trees and shrubs with which they abound; and the fruits and vegetables of every climate thrive here almost without culture, and are to be procured in great abundance. The water is excellent; and among the ordinary productions of this richest province of Brazil may be ranked cotton, sugar, coffee, cocoa, wheat, rice, pepper, and abundance of tobacco. Vines are here met with in great perfection, but the grapes are not pressed for the purpose of obtaining wine. Gold, silver, and precious stones, are annually exported by the Portuguese, whose indolence, especially with respect to investigation and research, has prevented them from giving to the world any satisfactory accounts concerning those remote regions which are subject to their authority.

St Sebastian, an extensive city, the metropolis of the foregoing province of Brazil, and the see of a bishop. It has a very extensive and commodi- RIO de Janeiro, which is defended by a number of forts. The city is built upon ground which is rather low, and was at one period of a swampy nature; it is environed by hills which exclude in a great measure the advantages of fresh air, both from the land and the sea, on which account the summers are inimical to health, the heat being almost suffocating. The different mechanics carry on their respective branches in distinct parts of the town, particular trades having particular streets assigned to them. The viceroy's palace is erected on the side of an extensive square; and there are fountains in different other squares, to which an aqueduct of considerable length conveys water over valleys by a double row of arches. On the extreme point is a fort called Santa Cruz, built on a prodigious rock of granite, and a Benedictine convent, jutting into the harbour, opposite to which is Serpent island, where there are houses for magazines and naval stores, together with a dock-yard.

The warehouses for the reception and preparation of slaves from Africa for sale, are in another part of the harbour, known by the name of Val Longo. The city of Rio Janeiro is situated near the mouth of a river of the same name in the Atlantic ocean. The streets of this city are in general well paved and straight. The houses in general are two stories high, covered with tiles, and have balconies of wood extending in front of the upper stories; but the best of them have that dull and heavy appearance which must necessarily be the case when latticed windows supply the want of glass. The rocks in its vicinity are granite, of a red, white, or deep blue colour, the latter being of a compact and hard texture.

Females of rank and distinction are said to have fine dark eyes, countenances full of animation, and their heads only ornamented with their tresses, which are bound up with ribbons and flowers. There are numerous convents and monasteries, and labour is in general performed by slaves, 20,000 of which are said to be annually imported. * Rio de Janeiro is a city of very considerable extent, and the population, including slaves, has been estimated at 65,000; but according to Dr Morfe, at no fewer than 200,000, as we find in his American Gazetteer, published in 1798; yet it appears extraordinary, that in such a city there is neither inn, nor hotel, nor any sort of accommodation for the reception of strangers. Such accommodation, however, is scarcely necessary, the weak and jealous government being too inhospitable, as to prohibit strangers from remaining on shore after the going down of the sun, and from walking the streets during the day without military spies.

When Mr Barrow visited this place, he found only two booksellers shops in it, after a long search, and many inquiries; but they contained nothing useful or interesting to a native of Britain. A number of old volumes on the subjects of alchemy and medicine, many more on church history and theological controversy, with a few on the mighty deeds of the house of Braganza, were all their catalogues contained.

It is said that the inhabitants sometimes go in small parties to the Public Garden, where they take supper, walk, and enjoy themselves with music and fireworks to a very late hour of the night.

Rio de Janeiro may justly be regarded as the grand central point on the coast of the Brazils, from which every other part of it may be at any time overawed. Its regular force is said to consist of two squadrons of cavalry, two regiments of artillery, five regiments of infantry, two battalions of disciplined militia, and 200 disciplined free negroes, making a sum total of more than 10,000 men; but Mr Barrow is of opinion that this estimate is much exaggerated, since during his stay in that city he could discover nothing to warrant such a conclusion; and he is inclined to think that the whole force of the Brazils united cannot exceed the number of 10,000 men. This place, which has for a time at least become the residence of the royal family and government of Portugal, will, no doubt, acquire additional importance, and may perhaps at some future period be the seat of a mighty empire.

RIO Janeiro, a river which rises in the western mountains of Brazil, and running east through that country, falls into the Atlantic ocean at St Sebastian.