To the want of encouragement and public spirit on the part of
the leading inhabitants, and the consequent unwise regulation
of the government, may be attributed the present state of the
provision-market. The beef is of such a quality, that it is really
quite disgusting to the sight. The cattle are certainly driven a
great distance, and are in a wretched state on their arrival at the
capital; but this difficulty would be remedied by the adoption of a
different system. Beef now pays a small duty, and by law is sold at 30
reas (or about 3d.) per lb. and one man has the contract; let it be of
the worst quality the price is the same; by the payment of an adequate
sum a piece of good beef cannot be obtained. Let this important branch
of commerce be thrown open, without any restriction of price; allow it
to rest upon the basis of fair competition, and a good quality of this
article would be seen in the metropolis, without any great additional
price. Mutton is not very generally in use, particularly amongst the
Brazilians; I have however seen some very good, which was fed by an
Englishman. Veal is rarely if ever seen. Pork is decidedly the best
meat obtained here. Vegetables and fruit are very abundant, and at
reasonable prices. Potatoes are not produced, except by some of the
English; but they degenerate after a year or two, by continuing to
plant from the same stock. Poultry of all kinds is dear, and fish is
occasionally so, arising more from the indolence of the fishermen, than
any scarcity, as the bay and outside of the bar furnish an abundance,
and some of a very fine flavour. Upon the whole, living at Rio is as
expensive or more so than in London, with none of the comforts of the
latter place. A house two stories high, consisting of a store below,
and accommodation for a moderate sized family above, will let for two
hundred and fifty or three hundred pounds per annum; and houses in the
vicinity of the city, with little comparative convenience, will rent
at seventy or eighty pounds a year; while those more commodious are
proportionably higher.