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page 159 ---Language--Society----Women----von
Langsdorff's home---
This general knowledge of the French has not, however, banished the mother
tongue in the higher classes of society; except the court, and those immediately
belonging to it, the English and French languages are confined to the
men, and are therefore seldom used in company. The fair sex, though they
participate in the change which the removal of the court hither has occasioned,
and are now more frequently seen in the theatre, and the open air, have,
however, on the whole, retained the same disposition which Barrow represents
in his apologetic description in 1792.
The hospitable residence of Mr. Von Langsdorff was a very agreeable place
of resort in the evening for many Europeans residing in Rio.
A spirit of cheerful and animated conversation prevailed, which was enhanced
by the musical talents of the lady of the house, and the cooperation
of the German composer, Neukomm. So great a number of naturalists, or
friends of natural history, had never yet been assembled here, as just
at the time of our stay. The mutual communication of the observations
and feelings which the luxuriance and the peculiarity of the vegetation
inspired, became doubly attractive, through the charm of the environs.
Von Langsdorff inhabited a small country-house, on the declivity of the
chain of hills which stretches from the city towards the southwest, and
enjoyed from hence, amidst the fragrant shrubs of Brazil, an
enchanting prospect over the city and part of the bay.
View of Guanabara bay, Rio de Janeiro
page 160
Nothing can be compared to the beauty of this retreat, when the most sultry
hours of the day are past, and gentle breezes, impregnated with balsamic
perfume from the neighboring wooded mountains, cool the air. This enjoyment
continues to increase as the night spreads over the land and sea, which
shines at a distance, and the city, where the noise of business has subsided,
is gradually lighted. He who has not personally experienced the enchantment
of tranquil moonlight nights in these happy latitudes, can never be inspired,
even by the most faithful description, with those feelings which scenes
of such wonderous beauty excite in the mind of the beholder. A delicate
transparent mist hangs over the country, the moon shines brightly amidst
heavy and singularly grouped clouds, the outlines of the objects which
are illuminated by it are clear and well defined, while a magic twilight
seems to remove from the eye those which are in the shade.
Scarce a breath of air is stirring, and the
neighboring mimosas, that have  folded up their leaves to sleep, stand
motionless beside the dark crowns of the manga, the jaca, and the ethereal jambos*; or sometimes a sudden wind arises, and the juiceless leaves of
the acaju [cashew tree] rustle, the richly flowered grumijama and pitanga [both myrtle trees] let drop a fragrant
shower of snow-white blossoms; the crowns of the majestic palms wave slowly
over the silent roof which they overshade, like a symbol of peace and
tranquillity.
 
* Mangifera indica, Artocarpus
integrifolia and Eugenia
Jambos.
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![acaju [cashew tree]](../a_plants_web1and2/Anacardium_pumilum.jpg){kind=link}
