MISSION OF COLLECTOR TO BRAZIL. 85 



town, the road leads for five or six miles along the side of the 

 aqueduct -which brings the supply of water into the city from 

 near the sumrait of the mountain. After passing the numerous 

 villas and houses scattered about on the side of the ridge along 

 which it leads, the road enters the forest. The trees are some 

 of them of considerable size, and the underwood is very dense, 

 consisting of shrubby Melastotnacece, Myrtacece, HuhiacecB, &c,, 

 with many rank herbaceous plants and Ferns of arboreous, scan- 

 dent, and herbaceous growth. 



Towards the summit the ascent is rather steep, but when it is 

 attained the view is magnificent. To the east, and immediately 

 in front of the newly-arrived visitor, stands the Sugarloaf, like a 

 huge watch-tower, commanding the entrance to the hay. To the 

 south the sea is seen stretching away to the distant horizon, 

 dotted near the shore with island rocks — the view on the left 

 being broken by some rugged hills. More to the west is the 

 square top of the Gavea and the peak of the Pedra Bonita, while 

 straight west are the hills of Tijuca, Immediately below, b\\ the 

 north side of the mountain, lies the city of Rio, its suburbs 

 crowding the valleys and straggling up the low hills round the 

 north-east and south sides of the Corcovado. Beyond the city 

 lies the harbour, with its ships and islands, and the town of 

 Niterohy on its opposite shore ; while far away in the same 

 direction the view is closed hy the serrated peaks of the Organ 

 mountains. 



June 5th, — Called at Mr. Miers* this morning. In the after- 

 noon, at Mr M.'s suggestion, I went out to the Botanic Gardens. 

 This is situated some miles out of the city, at the bottom of the 

 south and most precipitous side of the Corcovado ; it is a 

 miserable affair, scarcely deserving the name of a garden. The 

 only fine feature it possesses is an avenue of palms, which runs 

 through the centre of the grounds from the entrance to the 

 opposite boundary. The greater part of the ground has appa- 

 rently been left to nature for years, and is no better than a 



jungle. 



June 6th. — Taking a walk through the town to-day, I saw in 

 many of the small gardens attached to the houses plants of the 

 BougainviUea spectabilis, loaded with bloom, and also many 

 plants of the showy Poinsettia pulcherrima ; these, and a Croton, 

 called, by the people here, ** bom independencia do Brazil," 

 Are great favourites, and are to be seen in almost every garden 

 or yard all over Rio. 



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