Street Paving, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1850s
Captioned, The Three-Man Beetle, the author describes how streets are paved in Rio: The paving-ram is the 'three-man beetle' of Shakespeare. A trio of slaves are called to their work by a rapid solo executed with a hammer upon an iron bar. The three seize the ram: oneóthe maestro, distinguished by a hatówails forth a ditty, which the others join in chorus, at the same time lifting the beetle from the ground and bringing it down with a heavy blow . . . (p. 87); the process is repeated again and again, accompanied by the characteristic call and response pattern. The same illustration appears in later editions of Kidder's work, e.g., 1866 (6th ed.), 1879 (9th ed.).
Image Title
Street Paving, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1850s
RegID
SI-OB-1143
Date
1850-1860
Title
Street Paving, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1850s
Source
Daniel P. Kidder, Brazil and the Brazilians, portrayed in historical and descriptive sketches (Philadelphia, 1857), p. 87. (Copy in Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library)
Language
English
Item sets
Miscellaneous Occupations & Economic Activities
Spatial Coverage
South America--Brazil--Rio de Janeiro
Reproduced In
Daniel P. Kidder, Brazil and the Brazilians, portrayed in historical and descriptive sketches (Philadelphia, 1857), p. 87.
Researchers
Handler, Jerome; Tuite, Michael; Randall Ericson; Henry B. Lovejoy Graduate Research Assistants: Tiffany Beebe; Travis May
Identifier
kidder5