Falls of the Tcjuca. 129 



way of Larangeiras and Andarahy. Throughout the entire 

 distance we rode amidst the most exquisite specimens of 

 tropical vegetation, pahns, ebony trees, bignonias, plantains, 

 mangoes, papayas, and bread-fruit trees, mingling with which 

 we could discern the various trees and shrubs of the Northern 

 Hemisphere, and occasionally strange plants from China, 

 Japan, and Australia, which had been planted here by the 

 enterprising hand of foreign settlers. 



Not less charming is the excursion to the Falls of the 

 Tejuca, to which a broad road leads through blooming flower- 

 gardens, and past delicious country seats, extending far into 

 the mountains, and surrounded and overshadowed by a wall as 

 it were of verdure, consisting of the flowers of Bignonia 

 hello, intermingling with the shining leaves of the gigantic 

 BoKgainnillea. The coral tree {Erythrina corallijlorn), the 

 indigenous magnolia, the fan-shaped urania, numerous species 

 of palms, and lofty, carefully-tended screw-pines, plantains 

 with gigantic fruits, bread-fruit trees, eugenias, casuarinas, and 

 melon trees — such are the blooming odoriferous attractions 

 that here adorn garden and field. Ever threading his way 

 among such charming plantations, the traveller finally reaches 

 the path which, hemmed in between two mountain ridges 

 of moderate height, leads direct to the Tejuca mountains, 

 while to the right branch off numerous narrow paths conduct- 

 ing to the various adjoining eminences, from which a view 

 can be obtained of the small cascade. The tropical richness 

 and profusion of vegetation, has here crowded together upon 



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