" The first regatta ever known took place at Santos
last Sunday for all nations — English, American, French,
German, Portuguese, and Brazilian, and native caiques :
English and American in white flannel and black belts ;
German, scarlet ; French, blue ; Portuguese, white
with blue belts and caps ; Brazilians, like parrots, in
national costume, all green, with yellow fixings and
scarlet caps. Our boat was of course expected to win.
It was manned by four railway clerks, who had ordered
a big supper on the strength of the winnings ; but, poor
things t they had such weak arms, and they boasted



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tod talked so mucfa, that diey were exhausted befoR
tbef started. The 'En^idi hdies' (?) objected to
didr rowing in jerseys^ as improper 1 And thejr did
not know how to feather thor oars (had perhaps nero:
heard of it)» so thef came in ill/. T^ Portuguese^ who
stepped qaicdj into their boat mthout a wocd, caaie in
fin^ Brtail second, German third, and the thtee big
naticms, French, American, and English^ bst We Au/
by half a boat's length ! Tremendous Jghting and
quarrdling ensued, red and angry faoesi and ^bargee*
language. I am very glad; it will produce a good
feting on the Rraadlian sidc^ a general emulation^ and
take our English mobs down a pe^ wluch they sadly
want. The native caiques were really pitttf~blad^
men with paddles stan^ng upright, and all moving
together like a madune.
^ I leave SSo Paub on the sist, Santos on the la^
Itio on the 9th, and will reach home early in September.
