Rio

We found the United States frigate Columbia

anchored there (Rio de Janeiro), and

after the Lexington was properly moored, nearly all the officers

went on shore for sight-seeing and enjoyment. We landed at a wharf

opposite which was a famous French restaurant, Farroux, and after

ordering supper we all proceeded to the Rua da Ouvador, where most

of the shops were, especially those for making feather flowers, as

much to see the pretty girls as the flowers which they so

skillfully made; thence we went to the theatre, where, besides some

opera, we witnessed the audience and saw the Emperor Dom Pedro, and

his Empress, the daughter of the King of Sicily. After the

theatre, we went back to the restaurant, where we had an excellent

supper, with fruits of every variety and excellence, such as we had

never seen before, or even knew the names of. Supper being over,

we called for the bill, and it was rendered in French, with

Brazilian currency. It footed up some twenty-six thousand reis.

The figures alarmed us, so we all put on the waiters' plate various

coins in gold, which he took to the counter and returned the

change, making the total about sixteen dollars. The millreis is

about a dollar, but being a paper-money was at a discount, so as

only to be worth about fifty-six cents in coin.

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