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June the signal was made to anchor in Praya Bay, on the Island of St Iago, but there being only a light breeze of wind, there was little probability of getting the fleet to anchor that night. The signal was taken doen & we proceeded towards the equator, which we crossd on Sunday the 15 of July & on the 2d of August saw the coast of Brazil. The fleet in general remarkably healthy, and on the 5th the whole fleet got safe into the Harbour of Rio Janeiro. This is a remarkable fine harbour & little known to the English, or I believe any other nation but the Portuguese who are the possessors. It is governd by a Vice Roy, who with the officers are appointed from the Court of Portugal. Here we had great attention & respect paid us, on reason for it is that Capn Phillip (our Governor of New South Wales) was a commodore in the Portuguese services & much approvd of there, having I am informd renderd some essential service to that Crown. The harbour & town is very strongly defended. The entrance of the river is about a mile & a half wide, which is defended by a strong fort built on the solid rock at the foot of a very high hill on the top of which is a battery of three very large cannon. About a mile within the entrance is a small but strong fort on a rock entirely surrounded by water & about another mile further up is a strong fort on an island at a little distance from the city. But the principal strength of the city is a very large fort on an island at the north endof the city, the cannon mounted on is are very heavy. Immediately after anchoringpermission was given for us to go on shore & be provided with every refreshment.
The city is a mile & a half in length & about a mile in breadth. The streets stand at right angles with each other, are pavd & broad flag stone foot paths on each side. The houses lofty & in general well built, but wooden lattices to all the windows, they having no glass. Their housesare but indifferently furnishd, but their churches, chapples, monasterys & convents, to the number of 17 are very magnificent & their shops are well stockd with an excellent assortment of European goods. The landing place is at a large square before the Vice Roys Pallace. To the left is a negroe market, well stockd with poultry, fruits & vegetables of every kind & cheap. The Palace is a building two stories high. The upper part appropriated to his [?], the lower part is a guard house & armoury. Their military force consists of two troops of horse of 30 men each, one regiment of artillery of 600 men & five regiments of infantry of [921?] men each, exclusive of officers, forming in the whole a body of near 5000 men, besides a very numerous militia. Every regiment takes the guard in rotation to the number of 300 men who are constantly going round & on Sundays they