Mr Scouler's Voyage tu the Pacific Ocean. 201 



29th. — The heavy showers prevented us from collecting 

 many plants, as one is exposed in the woods to the double in- 

 convenience of the wet and the mosquitoes. I was, however, 

 fortunate in finding a friend, whose hospitality and knowledge 

 of the country enabled me to spend my time to more advan- 

 tage than a stranger could otherwise have done. To Mr 

 Boag I was further indebted for considerable additions to my 

 collection of reptiles and insects, and in directing me to those 

 places where the most interesting plants were to be found. 



30th. — The few days I had now to spend at Rio were occu- 

 pied in making excursions to the neighbouring woods and 

 hills. But although plants were easily collected, they were 

 rendered so moist by the frequent rains as to render the task 

 of drying them extremely difficult. In these excursions, it is 

 with intense curiosity one newly arrived from Europe visits the 

 wbods of a tropical country, and sees growing, in their native 

 wildness, those plants which are cultivated with so much trouble 

 and expence in more northern regions ! Here one sees the Mela- 

 stomae and Bauhiniae unregarded, except by the curious fo- 

 reigner, and the trees of Europe rivalled in height by the ferns 

 of the tropics. 



The most abundant rock in the neighbourhood of Rio is 

 granite. Near the sea this rock is interesting, from the large 

 size of the crystals of felspar and mica which enter into its 

 composition ; some of the crystals of felspar were from two to 

 three inches in length. In the vicinity of the coast this rock 

 is protected from the influence of the weather by the dense 

 vegetation which covers the soil. In ascending one of the 

 neighbouring hills, the rocks are quite exposed, and destitute 

 of vegetables : these rocks are of a white bleached appearance, 

 and consist of decomposing granite, so altered, that its com- 

 ponent minerals can scarcely be recognised. The summit of 

 this hill is also composed of granite, but not in a decomposing 

 state, like that lower down ; nor is it of so coarse a texture as 

 the granite of the coast. 



The crystals of mica and felspar are smaller, and the for- 

 mer is of a deeper colour than it is near the sea. On this hill 

 (Corcovado) the Brazilian government have a telegraph ; and 

 no place could be better adapted for such a purpose, as it com- 

 mands a beautiful and extensive view of the coast. To the 



