314 To the River Plate and Back 



streaming in through the windows of the car. I dressed 

 and resumed my contemplation of the fleeting pano- 

 rama. We were now among the mountains of the 

 eastern coast. The scenery was beautiful, the vegeta- 

 tion in the ravines and on the hills was fascinating. 

 Everywhere there was a wealth of blooming things. 

 Soon to our right we descried the peaks of Tijuca and 

 Corcovado. There was now no doubt that our journey 

 was nearing its end. We presently rolled through the 

 suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, and a little after eight o'clock 

 seated ourselves at breakfast in one of the hotels on the 

 Avenida. We learned that the Vestris had just dropped 

 anchor. In less than an hour we began to welcome our 

 fellow-passengers, who had come ashore for the day, 

 and strolled into the hotel. 



The morning was spent in making calls, and in 

 attending to the selection of a few photographs, which 

 I found I needed. At the noon-hour I repaired to the 

 hotel on the mountain-slope, and had a most enjoyable 

 luncheon. Then I again ascended Corcovado, and, 

 as the day was almost cloudless, had a better view than 

 it often falls to the lot of the tourist to obtain. I 

 walked down the mountain, collecting butterflies as I 

 descended. They were far more numerous than they 

 had been in the same place five weeks before. When 

 I reached the bottom of the long downward path, I 

 began to feel that I would be more comfortable in my 

 stateroom on the ship, riding far out on the cool 

 waters of the bay. So I hired a boatman, and just as 

 the sun was setting he brought me alongs'de of the 

 steamer, which I already had come to think of as my 

 home. It was pleasant to be welcomed by the cheery 

 Captain, who was leaning over the rail as I came up the 

 ladder. It was good to get into a bathtub, and efface 



