66 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



de San Lourenc^o, on the slope of the hills which 

 extend from the city towards the south-west ; 

 and the fine view, from that spot, of the city and 

 part of the ba^y. I endeavoured to make them 

 understand the beauty of our evenings, after the 

 sultry day, when the mimosas, that have folded 

 up their leaves to sleep, stand motionless beside 

 the dark manga, jaca, and other trees ; or 

 if a little breeze arises, how it makes the stiff, 

 dry leaves of the acaju * rustle, and the myrtles 

 drop a fragrant shower of blossoms; while the 

 majestic palms slowly wave their crowns over 

 all. 



My cousins appeared so much interested, that 

 I endeavoured to complete my picture of a Bra- 

 zilian evening. I described to them the shrill 

 cries of the cicada, and the monotonous hum of 

 the tree frog. The singular sound of the little 

 animal called the macue, which almost resembles 

 a distant human voice calling for help. The plain- 

 tive cries too of the sloth ; and the various noises 

 of the capuira, the goat-sucker, and the bull- 

 frog ; along with the incessant chattering of the 

 monkey tribe ; while myriads of fire-flies, like 

 moving stars, complete, as you used to say, the 

 beauty of our evenings. I did not forget to 

 mention those palms, whose flowers suddenly 



* The cashew-nut. 



