274 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



Portuguese, they are, even in this barren soil, so greatly increased 

 that during our whole stay here we had the pleasure of victualling 

 our crews with fresh provisions, and at our departure took on 

 board a quantity sufficient to last us for several days. 



" These harbours, or roads, abound in fish of five or six different 

 species, and among these are lampreys and morenos. The last 

 are of an enormous size, but neither of them palatable. At the 

 bottom of this harbour is taken a fish called cope, from its 

 triangular figure. . . . During the season which the turtles lay 

 their eggs, namely, from December to April, the shores of the 

 whole island are covered with them, after which they retire into 

 the sea and disappear. . . . 



" Notwithstanding all the civility and friendship of the governor 

 in every particular, we were in the same condition in the island, 

 with regard to recreation and amusements, as if we had been at 

 sea. Being hardly permitted to go ashore, the Portuguese, from 

 their natural suspicion and jealousy, observed their orders with 

 such precise strictness, that to go from the shore to the principal 

 fort where the governor resided was the only walk allowed ; and 

 in this, he who went ashore was attended with three or four 

 soldiers, who never left him till he returned to the boat, which 

 was immediately ordered to be put off. Guards were placed in 

 all quarters of the harbour ; and, on seeing any boat, they imme- 

 diately ran to the place they supposed she intended to land, in 

 order to accompany the passengers." 



Dr. Darwin says, " The whole island is covered with wood ; 

 but from the dryness of the climate there is no appearance of 

 luxuriance. At some elevation great masses of columnar rock, 

 shaded by laurels, and ornamented by a tree covered by fine pink 

 flowers,* like those of a foxglove, but without a single leaf, gave 

 a pleasing effect to the nearer parts of the scenery." f 



In the official report of the Challenger expedition it is stated : 

 " The intention was to have remained at this island for a week or 

 ten days to survey and explore it thoroughly; but, no previous notice 

 having been given to the Brazilian Government, the commandant 



* Jatropha gossypifolia, " Challenger Report," 1873-76. 

 f " Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of H.M.'s ships Adventure and 

 Beagle between the years 1826 and 1836," vol. iii. p. n. 



