CHAPTER II
RIO DE JANEIRO
Nov. 13—Dec. 7, 1768
Obstacles to landing—Viceroy memorialised—Boat's crew imprisoned—Vegetation, etc.—Ship fired at—Leave Rio harbour—Description of Rio—Churches—Government—Hindrances to travellers—Population—Military—Assassinations—Vegetables—Fruits—Manufactures—Mines—Jewels—Coins—Fortifications—Climate.
13th November.[1] As soon as we were well in the river, the captain sent his first lieutenant, Mr. Hicks, with a midshipman, to get a pilot: the boat returned, however, without the officers, but with a Portuguese subaltern. The coxswain informed us that the lieutenant was detained until the captain should go off. A ten-oared boat, containing about a dozen soldiers, then came off and rowed round the ship, no one in it appearing to take the slightest notice of us. A quarter of an hour later another boat came off, on board which was a Disembargador and a colonel of a Portuguese regiment. The latter asked many questions, and at first seemed to discourage our stay, but ended by being extremely civil, and assuring us that the Governor would give us every assistance in his power. The lieutenant, he said, was not detained, but had not been allowed on shore on account of the practica, but that he would be sent on board immediately.
14th. Captain Cook went on shore this morning. He returned with a Portuguese officer with him in the boat,
- ↑ This account, from the 13th to the 24th November inclusive, of the treatment of Captain Cook at Rio, has been much condensed from the original "Journal."
