206 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



through dense forest of the usual luxuriant type ; but the 

 palms, cycads, etc., and large trees are more frequent, and 

 the parasitic orchids and other epiphytes more luxuriant 

 than in the high country of the part of Minas I was in. 

 The birds, however, are fewer, and there are no parrots or 

 monkeys, except a few marmosets, which is not to be 

 wondered at, being so near the metropolis. There were 

 occasional charming glimpses through the forest of the 

 city and the Organ Mountains. At length I reached 

 Peineiras, where there is a " chacara " and a few other 

 buildings. 



This spot is 439 metres (1430 feet) above the sea. The 

 concessionaires of the railway intend building a grand 

 hotel here, and founding a colony, to induce the citizens 

 and foreigners to live up at this place during the summer 

 instead of going to Petropolis, as this will be within an 

 hour by rail and tram from the centre of the city, whereas 

 Petropolis is considerably more than two hours' journey. 

 It is certainly an enchanting spot, and magnificent views of 

 the Atlantic are to be seen within a few minutes' walk. 



On reaching the main shoulder of the mountain, the 

 Atlantic burst suddenly in view, and from this point began 

 the stiffest part of the climb. I gained the summit in one 

 hour and seven minutes after leaving the train, including rests 

 tolerably quick, as the summit is 712 metres (2196 feet), 

 which gave over two thousand feet ascent per hour. It 

 was a stiff pull up, and, though shaded much of the way by 

 the lofty forest trees and tangled masses of creepers, was 

 intensely hot work. Every stitch on me was dripping wet, 

 and I should have liked a cloak to ward off the chilly wind 

 which blew over the top. 



The summit consists of two rounded masses of bare 

 rock, walled in to prevent accidents, which would be only 



