February 1 [1848 and 1861]

Mary Brewster, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 1st [1848]: “Sunday morn I was up and dressed by eight in my best which — by and by had taken me some days to prepare such as washing ironing and the like — It took us about half an hour to get to the shore. Here we met Mr. Davis a young man, brother to the one we were to visit, who said we could sail up to the house, so we got in to the boat and by so doing saved some few footsteps and we had a fine view of Pernambuco — with its bridges — it is formed by three islands which are connected. Mr. Davis’ house was situated by the river and so we only had a short distance to walk….The family consisted of Mr. Davis’ & wife 3 children and a brother and sister, both young folks. At 11, we went to church. This is episcolpalean….I was not much interested in the Priest who officiated nor in the sermon which was the poorest affair I ever heard….the sabbath is not much respected….The stores are all open and business goes on as on other days….Monday….in the afternoon went out to ride on horseback with Mr. Davis & wife with husband. We rode some eight miles back in the country….a good chance to see some of the beauties of the place. The merchants and nobility have country seats which are fine-looking buildings surrounded with trees and shrubbery and live out-of-town — Tuesday morn we were up by light and got immediately ready for a start. We had a pleasant walk and was down to the shore by the time the boat arrived for us — in an hour was on board and the ship steering out of the harbor with light breeze….

Mary Lawrence, [Tues.] FEBRUARY 1 [1859]: “Samuel, Minnie and myself went on board the Scotland and passed the day. In the afternoon Captain Weeks, Captain May, and Captain Lawrence went after some oysters, which they found in abundance. Stowed our oil yesterday; found that the four whales had yielded us 177 barrels of oil, a very good yield for mussel diggers.”

Eliza Williams did not make a journal entry for this date in 1861.

Advertisements