This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 edition. Excerpt: ...fiery serpents. The panorama presented by the mountains during these vivid flashes was very beautiful; at last the storm came over the mountain, the peals of thunder became nearer and nearer, accompanied by rain. It was one of those wonderfully grand convulsions of the elements to which these countries are subject, but we do not hear of much damage done by the lightning. To-day it has blown half a gale of wind from the south-west, and looks very unsettled. The Oneida would have a rough time of it, but gales of wind are not frequently of long duration. December 6th.--The French mail brings nothing decisive from the River beyond reports of successes by the national troops in Entre Rios; but, as usual, these want confirmation. Surprising the Cerro fort at Monte Video, which commands the city, is one of those events which, as Lord Dundreary says, " no fellah can understand." A sortie from the city, on the other side, seems to have been attended with some loss, but no compensating result. December 12, 1870.--In noticing local improvements here tramways, of course, are the most modern, and the most important as a means of cheap, easy locomotion, of which the population avail themselves to an incredible extent, as few people believed Brazilians would to the extent they do. The line southward is now in course of construction to the Botanical Gardens, easy access to which will be an enormous advantage to the people of Rio de Janeiro, and materially increase the value of property in that direction. At the northern extremity of the city the company keep extending their rails so as to bring them within reach of the numerous residents in that direction, and ere long rails will be laid to the great central commercial thoroughfare traversed...