Toivn and Country Delights 



men in a hammock slung on a pole. The 

 hammock, and the palanquin were formerly 

 the chief means of locomotion for ladies in 

 town or country ; the hammock is still used 

 for mountain excursions, and by aged priests 

 when visiting their parishioners. A combi- 

 nation of riding and walking is the pleasantest 

 method for those who are equal to it. So on 

 one of the earliest days of the year we start 

 from the Mount for the Ribeiro Frio, "the 

 Cold River," a stream running northward from 

 the main chain, near to which is a celebrated 

 point of view, the spot chosen for our picnic. 

 A dog and several horses, with their attendants, 

 form our cavalcade ; the first has made many 

 a mountain excursion before, but he is still 

 under the impression that he is brought out 

 to hunt the half-wild goats that browse upon 

 the hillsides. We ascend rapidly through 

 pine-woods, pausing where there is an opening 

 to look back at the city lying below us, and 

 away to the westward to the great mass of 

 Capo Girao, a headland with a sheer front to 

 the sea. It has been said to be the highest 

 sea-clifFin the world, but is surpassed by many 

 on the Norwegian coast, and doubtless elsewhere. 



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