MR. WEIR’S JOURNAL. 841 
Society, again informing me that I was at liberty to go wherever I thought 
there was most chance of success, or, if I would prefer to leave South Brazil 
altogether, to write and say so. On my return from Assungy there are but 
two courses open to me—that is, if I remain in this part of the country: I 
must either make another long excursion into the far interior of the pro- 
vince by way of the campos of Guarapuava, or I must go southwards to the 
province of Sta. Catherina. The campos of the interior would not, 
Society, describing the nature of the country here as well as I could, and 
stating that I would prefer to go somewhere else. I may have time to 
go to Sta. Catherina, for a short time, before further instructions in answer 
to my letter can reach me. To-morrow I start for Assungy. 
March 6th.—Started for Assungy, taking with me, besides my camarada, 
another man who is better acquainted with the country. The first league 
or two was over campo alternating with pine wood; and in the afternoon 
we passed some swamps covered with the Butia palm. The fruit of this is 
edible, about the size of a gooseberry, of a yellow colour, and is borne in 
very large bunches. The pulp covering the nut or stone is the part eaten; 
it is rather acid, but not unpleasant. On the way I gathered specimens of 
No. 491 (Cuphea thymoides, Camb.). 
March 7th.—Arrived at Voltuverava. Country getting more hilly ; the 
hills towards their bases and the valleys between them being wooded, but 
their tops and rounded brows are campo. On the road collected specimens 
of No. 492, a Petunia of semi-climbing habit; and No. 493 (Abutilon, 
п. 8p.). 
Mark 8th.—Made about four leagues to-day, the half of the distance 
between Voltuverava and the colony. Country very hilly, and the road 
very bad. We have left all the campo behind now, the hills here being 
wooded to their summits. Our encampment for the night is on the bank 
‚ of a considerable sized river, the second we have passed to-day; both are 
tributaries of the Ribeira. On the margins of the river where we are en- 
camped, No. 494 (Pleroma (Diplochita), sp.), 10 to 12 feet high, grows 
plentifully, as does the herbaceous species No. 495 (Spigelia Humbold- 
tiana, Cham.). 
March 9th.—Arrived in the colony this afternoon. 
March 10th.—The colonial nucleus is not on the very margin of the 
river Ribeira, as I was told it was in Coritiba. That river is about a league 
distant, the smaller stream running through the colony being only a 
tributary. The clearing the colonists have made is not very large yet, and 
is planted with milho, mandiocea, sugar cane, &c. The forest around is 
lofty and dense. The surface of the ground very unequal. 
In company with the Director I went through some of the forest around 
the colony to-day, and collected specimens of No. 496 (Lycopodium 
dichotomum, Sw.); No. 497, п. s., a terrestrial orchid ; and No. 498 
(Drymonia ?), with pale sulphur-coloured flowers, and strong erect habit. 
March 11th.—In the forest to-day I gathered specimens of No. 499 
