^8^ TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



hitherto met with Httle encouragement, even in 

 the principal cities of Brazil, the barometers and 

 other instruments which are here and there met 

 with are, accordingly, considered as invaluable by 

 the few persons who amuse themselves with mete- 

 orological obsei'vations. 



At the foot of the mountain which we had now 

 to ascend, was the house of a Dutch planter. 

 While a person went into the wood to look for 

 him, and our caravan went forward, we had an 

 opportunity of collecting an abundance of plants, 

 and of the most beautiful insects, particularly the 

 cetonia. This planter, whose name was Duties, 

 cultivates the sugar-cane and coffee with great 

 success, in which he is much favoured by the 

 moisture of the valley, and the sunny situation of 

 the mountain. Fortunately, we did not stay here 

 very long, and soon overtook our mules, which we 

 found in great confusion on the clayey soil, which 

 was full of deep holes. Most of them had thrown 

 off their burdens, or stuck fast in the pits. We 

 were therefore obliged to make fascines, to fill up 

 the holes, and to give the animals a firm footing. 

 After excessive exertions, we at length reached 

 the summit of the mountain, where a fine view over 

 the plains of Santa Cruz made us forget our la- 

 bours. With various feelings, we here took our 

 last farewell of the sea-coast, and bent our way 

 into the interior. The mountain consists of 

 granite of a pretty fine grain, and reddish co- 



