28 PARA, Cuap. II. 
I think there is plenty, in tropical nature, to counteract any unpleasant 
impression which the reckless energy of the vegetation might produce. 
There is the incomparable beauty and variety of the foliage, the vivid 
colours, the richness and exuberance everywhere displayed, which make, 
in my opinion, the richest woodland scenery in Northern Europe a 
sterile desert in comparison. But it is especially the enjoyment of life 
manifested by individual existences which compensates for the destruc- 
tion and pain caused by the inevitable competition. Although this 
competition is nowhere more active, and the dangers to which each 
individual is exposed nowhere more numerous, yet nowhere is this 
enjoyment more vividly displayed. If vegetation had feeling, its 
vigorous and rapid growth, uninterrupted by the cold sleep of winter, 
would, one would think, be productive of pleasure to its individuals. 
In animals, the mutual competition may be greater, the predaceous 
species more constantly on the alert, than in temperate climates : but 
there is at the same time no severe periodical struggle with inclement 
seasons. In sunny nooks, and at certain seasons, the trees and the air 
are gay with birds and insects, all in the full enjoyment of existence ; 
the warmth, the sunlight, and the abundance of food producing their 
results in the animation and sportiveness of the beings congregated 
together. We ought not to leave out of sight, too, the sexual decora- 
tions—the brilliant colours and ornamentation of the males, which, 
although existing in the fauna of all climates, reach a higher degree of 
perfection in the tropics than elsewhere. This seems to point to the 
pleasures of the pairing seasons. I think it is a childish notion that 
the beauty of birds, insects, and other creatures is given to please the 
human eye. A little observation and reflection show that this cannot 
be the case; else why should one sex only be richly ornamented, 
the other clad in plain drab and grey? Surely, rich plumage and song, 
like all the other endowments of species, are given them for their own 
pleasure and advantage. This, if true, ought to enlarge our ideas of 
the inner life and mutual relations of our humbler fellow-creatures ! 
We at length emerged from the forest, on the banks of the Una, near 
its mouth. It was here about one hundred yards wide. The residence 
of Senhor Danin stood on the opposite shore: a large building, white- 
washed and red-tiled as usual, raised on wooden piles above the humid 
ground. The second story was the part occupied by the family, and 
along it was an open verandah where people, male and female, were at 
work. Below were several negroes employed carrying clay on their 
heads. We called out for a boat, and one of them crossed over to fetch 
us. Senhor Danin received us with the usual formal politeness of the 
Portuguese ; he spoke English very well, and after we had arranged our 
business we remained conversing with him on various topics connected 
with the country. Like all employers in this province, he was full of 
one topic—the scarcity of hands. It appeared that he had made great 
exertions to introduce white labour, but had failed, after having brought 
numbers of men from Portugal and other countries under engagement 
to work for him. They all left him one by one soon after their arrival. 
The abundance of unoccupied land, the liberty that exists, a state of 
things produced by the half-wild canoe-life of the people, and the ease 

