brazil—contrast between portuguese and spanish south america—moorish traditions—amazing beauty of rio de janeiro—yellow fever—the commercial court chamberlain—the emperor pedro—the botanic gardens of rio—the quaint diversions of petropolis—the liveried young entomologist—buenos ayres—the charm of the "camp"—water-throwing—a british minister in carnival time—some buenos ayres peculiarities—masked balls—climatic conditions—theatres—restaurants—wonderful bird-life of the "camp"—estancis negrete—duck-shooting—my one flamingo—an exploring expedition in the gran chaco—hardships—alligators and fish—currency difficulties.
my first impression of brazil was that it was a mere transplanted portugal, but a portugal set amidst the most glorious vegetation and some of the finest scenery on the face of the globe. it is also unquestionably suffocatingly hot.
there is a great outward difference in the appearances of the towns of portuguese and spanish south america. in brazil the portuguese built their houses and towns precisely as they had done at home. there are the same winding irregular streets; the same tall houses faced with the decorative "azulejos"; the same shutterless sash-windows. a type of house less suited to the burning climate of brazil can hardly be imagined. there being no outside shutters, it is impossible to keep the heat
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