FAZENDA LIFE. 123 



tiiiho. The Emperor cordially consented, Major Coutinho 

 signified his readiness, and the matter was concluded. 

 Since then there have been frequent conferences between 

 Mr. Agassiz and his new colleague, intent study of maps 

 and endless talk about the most desirable mode of laying 

 out and dividing the work. He feels that Major Coutinho's 

 familiarity with the scenes to which we are going will 

 lighten his task of half its difficulties, while his scientific 

 zeal will make him a most sympathetic companion.* We 

 found to-day some large leaves of the Terminalia Catappa 

 of the most brilliant colors ; red and gold as bright as any 

 of our autumnal leaves. This would seem to confirm the 

 opinion that the turning of the foliage with us is not an 

 effect of frost, but simply the ripening of the leaf; since 

 here, where there is no frost, the same phenomenon takes 

 place as in our northern latitudes. 



July 24:th. Our last preparations for the journey are 

 completed ; the collections made since our arrival, amount- 

 ing to upwards of fifty barrels and cases, are packed, in 

 readiness for the first opportunity which occurs for the 

 United States, and to-morrow morning we shall be on 

 our way to the great river. We went this morning to 

 the Collegio Dom Pedro Segundo to bid farewell to our 

 excellent friend Dr. Pacheco, to whose kindness we owe 

 much of our enjoyment during our stay here. The Col- 

 lege building was once a " seminario," a charitable in- 

 stitution where boys were taken to be educated as priests. 



* Never were pleasant anticipations more delightfully fulfilled. During 

 eleven months of the most intimate companionship I had daily cause to be 

 grateful for the chance which had thrown us together. I found in Major 

 Coutinho an able collaborator, untiring in his activity and devotion to scien- 

 tific aims, an admirable guide, and a friend whose regard I trust I shall ever 

 retain. L. A. 



