238 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



garden. Many benches scattered beside the walks afford 

 charming resting-places, where one can sit and read, pro- 

 tected from the sun, even on the hottest days. There are 

 also extensive well-kept lawns of the usual knot-grass 

 (Spergula sp.\ from which spring various solitary palms of 

 many species. A family of pacas (a fawn-coloured rodent, 

 the size of a small pig) and an emu (resembling a casso- 

 wary) live in the garden, the latter being very tame, and 

 not objecting to being stroked ; while on various ponds 

 live a number of ducks and geese ; and darting among the 

 trees, or lazily floating along the walks, appear many 

 handsome butterflies. At the further end of the garden, 

 bordering the bay, is a fine broad marble-paved terrace, 

 whence is a charming view, and whereon is a drinking 

 fountain, formed by the figure of a boy, who pours water 

 into a stone barrel ; beneath the figure is a motto, " Sou 

 util inda brincando " (" I am useful although playing "). 

 This delightful garden is open daily from 6 a.m. At 

 night the walks are lighted with gas. There is also a 

 restaurant ; and a German band plays every Tuesday, 

 Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. 



Jardim do Campo da Acclama^do. 



This is another of the squares worthy of a brief notice. 

 It is much larger than the Passeio Publico, but was only 

 begun in 1873, an< ^ opened in 1880, before which time it 

 was a public washing-ground. It is an exceedingly pretty 

 place, with various ponds, islands, and green lawns, and 

 reminded me much of Battersea Park, though, being so 

 new, of course, the vegetation has not yet grown to a great 

 height. Besides its lakes, covered with hundreds of water- 

 fowl, there is in one corner a very picturesque imitation of 

 limestone caves, with waterfall, stalagmites, stalactites, and 

 dripping roof. 



