44 MISSION OF COLLECTOE TO BRAZIL. 



thick, and very difficult to penetrate, the numerous creepers being 

 entangled and intertwined among the trees and undershrubs in a 

 thousand different ways. There are very few things in bloom 

 here at present, nor are there many plants bearing seeds. The 

 Clematis f No. 25 (C Brasilimsis) y is perha2:>s the most con- 

 spicuous object in this forest at present, after the BougainvillecBy 

 being completely covered with immense bunches of its long awned 

 seeds. It has the appearance of being clothed in 



r 



L 



'* A silken gown o' sillar grey." 



In the damp parts of the forest, the pretty little Physiarus argen- 

 tens is common. 



r 



July I3t7t, — Continued my investigations to-day on the ridge 

 of bills running from the village towards the north-west, but 

 met with nothing worthy of particular notice. 



July lith, — Took a walk along the railway towards the city 

 this forenoon, making detours on either side whenever the ground 

 was traversable. Had got about four miles along the line in this 

 way, when my progress in that direction was brought to an end 

 by one of the railway officials whom I met informing me tliat 

 people were. not allowed to walk upon the railway. Struck across 

 the marshy land on the south side of the line. I made the best 

 way I could to the river Sta. Anna, and returned to Belem along 

 its edge. In the marshes, No. 97 {Rhexia, sp.), a Melastoma- 

 ceous plant, grows in great plenty, attaining a height of 5 feet. 

 The flowers are light purple. No. 98 {Jussida anastomozans) 

 grows in the same situations- Its flowers are yellow, and its 

 height 5 or 6 feet. Nos. 29 {Hiraa, sp.) and 30 (CorcJiorus, sp.) 

 grow in the drier parts of the low ground. Both are shrubs 8 or 

 10 feet high, the former conspicuous at present from its large 

 bunches of reddish-brown winged fruit, the latter with small 

 yellow flowers ; but perhaps neither would be considered worthy 

 of cultivation. 



July 15^/t.— Occupied within dOors the greater part of the day. 



July IQth. — Hired a mule, and started on the waggon road 

 towards the city, in order to ascertain the nature of the country in 

 that direction. As fur as I went (about 14 miles) the road leads 

 along the south bottom of a lofty range of hills, a continuation of 

 those in the immediate neighbourhood of Belem. On the south 

 side of the road runs another range of hills, but Ibwer and more 

 interrupted than the other, the road occupying a sort of valley 

 between them. These ranges are the flank swelliuas of the chain 



