32 RIO DE JANEIKO. 



themselves covered by other creepers, Avere of 

 great thickness : some which I measured were two 

 feet in circumference. Many of the older trees 

 presented a very curious appearance from the 

 tresses of a liana hanging from their boughs, and 

 resembling bundles of hay. If the eye was turned 

 from the world of foliage above to the gi'ound 

 beneath, it was attracted by the extreme elegance 

 of the leaves of the ferns and mimosas. The latter, 

 in some parts, covered the surface with a brush- 

 wood only a few inches high. In walking across 

 these thick beds of mimosEes, a broad track was 

 marked by the change of shade, produced by the 

 drooping of their sensitive petioles. It is easy 

 to specify the individual objects of admiration in 

 these grand scenes ; but it is not possible to give 

 an adequate idea of the higher feelings of wonder, 

 astonishment, and devotion, which fill and elevate 

 the mind. 



April 19^A. — Leaving Socego, during the first two 

 days, we retraced our steps. It was very weari- 

 some work, as the road generally ran across a gla- 

 ring hot sandy plain, not far from the coast. I no- 

 ticed that each time the horse put its foot on the 

 fine silicio.us sand, a gentle chirping noise was pro- 

 duced. On the third day we took a different line, 

 and passed through the gay little village of Madre 

 de Deos. This is one of the principal lines of road 

 in Brazil ; yet it was in so bad a state that no wheel 

 vehicle, excepting the clumsy bullock-wagon, could 

 pass along. In our whole journey we did not cross 

 a single bridge built of stone ; and those made of 

 logs of wood were frequently so much out of re- 

 pair, that it was necessary to go on one side to 

 avoid them. All distances are inaccurately known. 

 The road is often marked by crosses, in the place 

 of milestones, to signify where human blood has 



