LIFE IN RIO CONTINUED. 85 
some bright-colored beads, which set off the fcrm of the 
hand and are exceedingly becoming on her dark, shining 
skin. These negroes are Mohammedans, and are said to 
remain faithful to their prophet, though surrounded by the 
observances of the Catholic Church. They do not seem 
to me so affable and responsive as the Congo negroes, but 
are, on the contrary, rather haughty. One morning I came 
upon a cluster of them in the market breakfasting after 
their work was done, and I stopped to talk with them, ask- 
ing what they had for breakfast, and trying various subjects 
on which to open an acquaintance. But they looked at 
me coldly and suspiciously, barely answering my questions, 
and were evidently relieved when I walked away. 
May QQth. Tijuca. In the pleasant environs of Rio 
there is no resort more frequented than the establishment 
of Mr. Bennett at Tijuca, and we were not sorry the day 
before yesterday to leave the hot, dusty city, with a pleasant 
party of friends, for this cluster of mountains, some eigh- 
teen hundred feet above the sea level and about eight miles 
from Rio. It takes its name from the peak of Tijuca, so 
conspicuous an object in the coast range. On our arrival 
we were very cordially welcomed by our host himself, who 
was not quite a stranger to us, for Mr. Agassiz has been 
already indebted to him for valuable collections. Mr. Ben- 
nett has an Englishman's love of nature, and is very fa- 
miliar with the botany and zoology of the beautiful region 
which has been his home for many years. Under his guid- 
ance, we have taken a number of pleasant rambles and 
rides, regretting only that we cannot avail ourselves for a 
longer time of his intimate knowledge of the locality and 
its productions. 
I have alluded before to the perplexing character of the 
