20 TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



more rural description than those of Rio. Instead 

 of the subUme prospect of the sea and stupendous 

 mountains which rise there in picturesque forms, 

 the stranger has here an extensive view of a coun- 

 try where alternate hills and valleys, light woods, 

 and pleasant pastures present all the softer charms 

 of nature. Added to the happy climate, the beauty 

 of the scenery has perhaps given the Paulistas a 

 turn for laying out gardens, of which there are 

 several very pretty ones in the vicinity of the city. 

 Besides the native fruits, the gujava, guabiroba, 

 grumbijama, jabuticaba, acaju, &c. ; they cultivate 

 also water-melons, oranges, figs, and other European 

 fruits. Quinces, cherries, peaches, and several 

 kinds of apple thrive particularly well. Successful 

 trials have also been made with walnuts and chest- 

 nuts ; the vine and the olive on the other hand^ 

 seem to disdain their new country, or not yet to 

 have been treated in a proper manner. The grapes 

 which we tasted had an acid flavour ; perhaps the 

 soil is too strong and moist for the vine. The 

 olive hardly ever bears fruit, perhaps because the 

 season for its ripening falls exactly in the wet 

 months. European kitchen herbs grow admirably ; 

 the onions of S. Paulo, like those of S. Cathe- 

 rine, are celebrated for their size and abundance. 

 Though the difference of the seasons is very sensi- 

 ble here, and manifests itself in the development of 

 the flowers and the maturing of the fruits, yet it 

 seems to have no influence on the formation of the 



