344 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



my companion, whose profession made him used to 

 accurate estimates, and who had observed it from 

 many points of view, reckoned the height at between 

 1 80 and 200 feet. I had not then^ seen the giant 

 conifers of western North America, but, excluding the 

 two Sequoias, I have not found any single tree to 

 equal this. In the valleys of the Alleghany Moun- 

 tains in Tennessee, I have indeed beheld not unworthy 

 rivals. The Liriodendron there sends up a stem more 

 than seven feet in diameter, and frequently exceeds 

 1 50 feet in height. 



To diminish my regret at quitting this beautiful 

 region, the morning of July 24 broke amid dark 

 clouds and heavy rain, which continued till the after- 

 noon. I had counted on enjoying a few hours in Rio 

 before my departure, but, that being impossible, I 

 went directly from Tijuca to the landing-place, and 

 thence on board the steamer of the Royal Mail Com- 

 pany, which was to take me back to England. This 

 was the Tagus, and I had much pleasure in finding, 

 her under the command of Captain Gillies, with 

 whom I had made the voyage from Southampton to 

 Colon. In the afternoon we slowly steamed out of 

 the bay. Its glories were veiled, heavy clouds rested 

 on the Organ Mountains ; but the Corcovado and the 

 other nearer summits appeared from time to time, 

 and the last impression was that of fleeting images of 

 beauty the like of which I cannot hope again to 

 behold. 



The course for steamers from Rio Janeiro to Eng- 

 land is as nearly as possible direct. The coast of 

 Brazil from Rio to Pernambuco runs from south- 



