hat
day was sufficient recommendation.

CHAPTER VII

IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE

No money in advance, nor baggage as security for our board, was
required. Nothing in the house was too good for us; we could have
anything we wanted, and, oh, how glad the other boarders were to see us!
I almost felt at that time as if I had met about twenty long-lost
brothers. All that affection cost Jimmy and me several rounds of drink
for the "house." That afternoon we went to the consulate and received
our discharges and pay. The money was in Brazilian currency, and,
together, our money amounted to a hundred and fifty-five thousand
reis--twenty reis equal to a cent of United States money. Bookkeeping in
that country requires the use of a large number of figures.

Our first venture was to get new suits of clothes and enjoy the luxury
of a much-needed fresh-water bath, when "Richard was himself again."
What a change in our mode of living! Fruit of all kinds to be had for
almost nothing; comfortable beds to sleep in; fresh food and vegetables
to eat. The only thing I objected to was that we had too many newly
found friends. I was strictly temperate at that time. Jimmy made me his
banker, with the condition that I should give him money only in small
amounts.

Brazil is a very large country, and at that time was the only empire in
South America. Dom Pedro III was emperor. His palace was close to the
city of Rio. I saw him several times, as he frequently rode through the
city in his carriage, always escorted by his bodyguard of thirty
cavalrymen. He was a very fine-looking young man with fair complexion.
No doubt he was the most progressive ruler Brazil ever had. Now he is
dead and Brazil is a Republic. Rio de Janeiro is the capital, and a most
beautiful city it is. Viewing it from the bay in the night-time, it
resembles the dress-circle in an immensely large theatre, the
street-lights forming the rows of seats. The language is Portuguese,
much similar to Spanish. I had very little difficulty in making myself
understood when conversing with the natives. There was not a sewer in
the city. Large tubs about three feet high, eighteen inches in diameter,
were used in the houses for all refuse and waste material, and, when
filled, they were carried on the heads of slaves at night-time and
emptied into the bay. A large building at the water's edge was the
public dumping ground. The slaves were nearly all genuine Africans,
naked to the w