484 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 
This week Mr. Agassiz has concluded another course of 
six lectures given at the College of Dom Pedro II. ; the 
subject, " The Formation of the Amazonian Valley, and its 
Productions." It is worthy of remark, that the appearance 
of ladies on such occasions no longer excites comment. 
There were many more senhoras among the listeners 
than at the previous lectures, when their presence was 
a novelty. A Brazilian audience is very sympathetic ; in 
this they resemble a European assembly more than our own 
quiet, undemonstrative crowds. There is always a little 
stir, a responsive thrill, when anything pleases them, and 
often a spoken word of commendation or criticism. 
June. 10th. Theresopolis. Yesterday, accompanied by 
Mr. Glaziou, Director of the Passeio Publico, and Dr. 
Nageli, we started on an excursion to the Organ Mountains, 
leaving Rio in the boat for Piedade, and stopping on our 
way at the little island of Paqueta. This is one of the 
prettiest islands of the harbor, abounding in palms, popu- 
lous with pleasant country-houses, and having a very pic- 
turesque shore, broken into bays and inlets. We reached 
the little cluster of houses called Piedade about five o'clock, 
and took the omnibus to the foot of the serra. The hours 
of public conveyance on this road seem ingeniously ar- 
ranged to prevent the traveller from seeing its beauties. 
The greater part of the four hours' drive is made after 
nightfall ; and the return offers no compensation, the second 
journey taking place before daybreak. We passed the night 
at the foot of the serra, and started at seven o'clock the 
next morning to walk up the mountain. It is impossible to 
describe the beauty of this walk, especially on such a day as 
we were favored with, varying between sunshine and shade, 
and with a fresh breeze which saved us any discomfort from 
