132 



shaded or protected by extensive groves of low" trees, of singu- 

 lar and stunted growth, rarely growing so close together as to 

 form a thicket or impede the traveller. These arid groves have 

 sometimes reminded me of the Acacia groves so predominant 

 over the plains in the interior of Southern Africa. Yet it is 

 rarely that one can compare African with Brazilian Botany ; 

 their character, in many particulars, differs so widely : but I 

 was a long time in Brazil before I saw such large trunks of 

 timber as I have observed in some of the forests of the Cape 

 Colony. I allude to the Podocarpi. These forests are, indeed, 

 of no extent, compared to those of America: but they afford 

 specimens of sylvan scenery for the painter not less grand and 

 beautiful ; although they are generally deficient in that most 

 splendid and noble feature, the Palms. When, however, we 

 descend towards the low latitudes of Brazil, the glorious magni- 

 ficence of the forests is truly astonishing, and none but those 

 who are born in the midst of them can view such imposing pro- 

 ductions of nature without a feeling of awe or I'espect. She 

 overloads herself, and one object oppresses and smothers 

 another in the genei'al struggle for luxuriance. The Ber- 

 thollefia, and some species of Bo7nbax, far overtop their 

 vegetable brethren ; and the trunks of the latter are really 

 stupendous, both in height and thickness. I say nothing of 

 the great climbing plants, as they have been lately so often 

 described ; but we never can be silent with respect to the 

 Palms ; they abound in every latitude and situation, and their 

 variety is far greater than any one traveller can form an 

 idea of. They are of every size, from that of an ordinary 

 herbaceous plant to that of the highest tree of the forest; but 

 I think none surpass the Buriti or Miritii [Mauritia vinifera, 

 Mart. tab. 38.) in grandeur and imposing beauty: although 

 the plate does not convey an idea of this character. Another 

 plant of most extraordinary aspect and magnificence is the 

 Araucaria; but this I never saw much to the northward of 

 the city of San Paulo. It is only found at a great elevation, 

 and I believe is not known to exist in the provinces of Goyaz 

 and Para. You ask whether the Barbacenece abound. Of 

 these I have found but few, (if I recollect right,) but the 



