FAZENDA LIFE. 117 
appearing to descend from the peaks of the Alps and ex- 
tending toward the Jura, while from all the tributary 
valleys similar masses pour down to meet it." It was 
as if the valley and harbor of Rio had meant to offer us 
a similar picture of past times, with the image of which 
our minds had been filled for the last few days in conse- 
quence of the glacial phenomena constantly presented to us 
on our journey. 
July 6th. To-morrow was to have been the day of 
our departure for the Amazons, but private interests must 
yield to public good, and it seems that the steamer which 
was to have left for Para to-morrow has been taken by the 
government to transport troops to the seat of war. The 
aspect of the war grows daily more serious, and the 
Emperor goes himself the day after to-morrow to Rio 
Grande do Sul, accompanied by his son-in-law, the Duke 
of Saxe, soon to be followed by the Conte d'Eu, who is 
expected by the French steamer of the 18th of this month. 
Under these circumstances, not only are we prevented from 
going at the appointed date, but it seems not improbable 
that the exigencies of war may cause a still further delay, 
should other steamers be needed. A very pleasant public 
dinner, intended to be on the eve of his departure, was 
given to Mr. Agassiz yesterday by Messrs. Fleiuss and Linde. 
Germans, Swiss, French, Americans, and Brazilians made 
up the company, a mingling of nationalities which resulted 
in a very general harmony. 
July 9th. For some time Mr. Agassiz has been trying 
to get living specimens of the insect so injurious to the 
coffee-tree ; the larva of a little moth akin to those which 
destroy the vineyards in Europe. Yesterday he succeeded 
in obtaining some, and among them one /Hist spini ing 
