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 10f7t. 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 



