Unsociablencss of the Inhabitants. 131 



which to dry in the sun the ripe berries of the coffee plant, 

 which in many parts hereabout forms an almost impervious 

 forest. 



As we prosecute our wanderings further, we finally emerge 

 upon the green hills of the vicinity, and obtain a charming 

 glimpse of the ocean ; we have now arrived in front of the 

 gigantic outline of the Gavia, and directly facing us lies the 

 salt-marsh, known as Tejuca-Lake, in the midst of which rises 

 an island, thickly overgrown with mango-trees, standing on 

 their distorted hundredfold roots ; melancholy-looking ex- 

 amples of the inactivity and absence of all attention of the 

 Brazilian authorities, who permit such a hot-bed of poisonous 

 miasma to remain in the immediate vicinity of the city, and 

 leave these plants unchecked to carry on their pestiferous vital 

 processes ! 



Returninor from such a delightful excursion to Rio de 

 Janeiro, the stranger feels doubly uncomfortable and lonely in 

 the dreary and sombre city. The Brazilians are in general 

 neither very social nor hospitable, and only, after many years' 

 acquaintance, is a familiar intercourse formed with strangers. 



In this respect they bear a strong resemblance to the 

 Spanish- Americans, vvhom they also greatly resemble in many 

 of their habits of life. Foreigners settled in Rio spend their 

 evenings generally at their country seats, some distance from 

 the town, so that the. occasional visitor is deprived of the social 

 intercourse that might otherwise be so accessible. We met 

 with a most hospitable reception at the houses of the Austrian 



K 2 



