328 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



the Bombax pubescens of botanists. The fruit, with its 

 copious silky appendage to the seeds, alone remained 

 at this season ; but when covered with a mass of large 

 white flowers, it must have a gorgeous appearance. 



I cannot feel sure that every naturalist will approve 

 of the resolution, which I very soon formed, to remain 

 as long as was possible at Petropolis. To reach the 

 higher summits of the Organ Mountains would have 

 required at least three or four days' travel, and at 

 this season I could expect to see very little of the 

 vegetation of the higher zone. In the mean time, I 

 found in the immediate neighbourhood, within a radius 

 of four or five miles, an unexhausted variety of objects 

 of interest, and the attractions of the place were 

 doubtless heightened by the fortunate circumstances in 

 which I found myself. It is certain that the ten days 

 that I spent at this fascinating spot remain in my 

 memory as the nearest approach to a visit to the 

 terrestrial paradise that I can expect to realize. 

 Besides the British minister, Mr. Corbett, I was for-- 

 tunate enough to make the acquaintance of two 

 English families, whose constant kindness and hospi- 

 tality largely contributed to the enjoyment of my 

 stay. To find in the midst of the marvels of tropical 

 nature the charms of cultivated society, was a com- 

 bination that I had not ventured to promise to myself. 



Although I never went farther than five or six 

 miles from my head-quarters, the variety of delightful 

 walks in every direction seemed to be inexhaustible ; 

 go where one would, it seemed certain that one could 

 not go wrong. I soon ascertained, indeed, that it is 

 useless to attempt to penetrate the forests, except by 



