Spread out before him is the view, — one of the most wonderful that the earth affords. On a clear day, fifty square miles of ocean, bay, mountains, and plains are visible; and the great city, which, from a distance, appears always so beautiful, lies at his feet.

The compass and the variety of the sight are remarkable. It is no wonder that visitors to Rio Janeiro climb the Corcovado again and again to learn the changes in cloud and in sunshine of this world-renowned view, and to impress more strongly upon their minds its various features.

Negro water carriers, fishmongers, and dealers in poultry are seen upon the city streets early in the day. The fish dealers announce their coming by sounding wooden clappers. The poultry is carried about in covered straw baskets; and it is a funny sight to see a sober black face shaded by such a basket, through whose crevices chickens pop their heads. The knowing birds cluck anxiously, and gaze around as if seeking to discover what is to become of them.

The beef and mutton is imported from Buenos Ayres, and what do you suppose is imported from the United States? Not Boston baked beans, but salt codfish. They actually prefer this dry salt fish to fresh fish caught in their own bay. A New Englander would hardly recognize his codfish by taste, for it is prepared, like many of the Brazilian dishes, with a great quantity of garlic and oil.

Let us see how a Brazilian living in the city of Rio Janeiro forty years ago, spent his day. He rose with the sun, ate a light repast of an egg, a roll, and a cup of coffee, and then went to his office in order to accomplish as much business as possible before the excessive heat of the middle of the day.

At twelve o’clock he opened his white sun umbrella, and turned his dark face homeward. On his arrival, breakfast was served. That was like a dinner, except that neither fowl nor vegetables appeared. It consisted of soup, steak or chops, omelette or salad, and cheese, sweetmeats, and coffee.

There is a Brazilian proverb that coffee, to be good, should be “ black as night, and strong as death.” Most of the coffee drunk in Brazil is of this kind. As coffee appears at all the meals, and is freely indulged in between meals, its effect upon the people is marked. Most of the men in Rio Janeiro can scarcely keep still. The muscles of their faces and bodies are always twitching, because of this indulgence in strong coffee.

The businessman whose day we are following rested until four o’clock, and then he returned to his office. He remained there till eight, when dinner called him home. In the evening he either visited the theatre or proceeded to the gambling table.