Vegetable Kingdom in iJie Brazils. 39 



degrees. Its conical rocky summits, seldom terminating in 

 plains of any extent, sometimes reach a height of more than 

 3000 feet, and are distinguished by a character of wildness, in 

 evident contrast with the usual contour of the primitive moun- 

 tains. To the south they become low, part branching off to 

 the west, under the name of Serra Geral, divides the waters of 

 the Panama from those of the Uruguay ; while the southern ra- 

 diations are lost in the sandy plains north of Monte Video. The 

 soil which covers the rocky masses of the Serra do Mar is either 

 dark rich vegetable mould, or a heavy reddish loam containing 

 gold. Large tracts in the valleys are frequently filled with 

 marshes. The ground, however, here never becomes so dry as in 

 our pine forests, because it is watered by many fountains, and 

 moistened by the exhalations of the overhanging woods. This 

 entire chain, the bulwark of the land towards the sea, is almost 

 in its whole extent clothed with a thick tall forest, as old as tl>e 

 rocks on which it spreads its roots, and which, as it were, exhi- 

 bits the creative power and luxuriancy of this continent. 



It would be a vain attempt for the traveller to endeavour to 

 excite in others, even in the faintest manner, the impressions 

 which here overpower him. The magnitude of the heaven-tow- 

 cring trees ; the fulness of the variegated foliage ; the splendid 

 display of colours, from an innumerable variety of flowers ; the 

 luxurious entanglement of dense bushes and entwining Lianes, 

 or climbing plants* ; and the singular forms of parasites which 

 establish around the old stems their youthful empire. What a 

 great, rich, and sublime scene ! The wanderer finds himself here 

 at once elevated and struck with awe. The horror of the soli- 

 tude of the woods and dark shade, is associated with the sweet 

 delight of such a novel scene, and with the most reverential ad- 

 miration of that Almighty power which here conjures up a new 

 world to the view, and speaks to us in a language that never be- 

 fore reached our ears ; and, even in the unobtrusive life of the ve- 

 getable kingdom, unfolds the power and the majesty of its creation. 

 These woods occupy in a continuous tract, in the eastern pro^ 

 vinces of Brazil, many thousand square miles, and are designated 

 by the name of Matta Geral, or Universal Forest. Tliey afford 

 shelter to those wild hordes of Indians who, never hitherto siib- 



• Chiefly of the genera Bignonia, Banistcria, and Aristcloc iiia. 



