TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 139 



less rich in gold than the northern tracts. But, on 

 the other hand, Flora has more lavishly endowed it 

 with a diversity of flowers. The rhexias, in par- 

 ticular, are a great ornament. There is an endless 

 variety of species, all low shrubs ; the numerous, 

 thin, profusely-leaved stalks, are covered with 

 beautiful red and violet-coloured blossoms. Stately 

 stems of blue vellosias and gay barbacenias*, the 

 representatives of the lihaceous plants, principally 

 adorn the stony eminences. Of the family of the 

 gentians, there are many species of lisianthus, 

 which call to mind the equality of the diffusion of 

 certain families, through very remote countries. 



At the bottom of the valley, we crossed the 

 little river Ingahy, which, as well as the Capivary 

 which joins it, carries the tribute of its waters to 

 the Rio Grande. The sohtary spot was just then 

 animated by numerous caravans, conveying bacon 

 from the interior of Minas to Rio de Janeiro, and 

 which had encamped in the valley. This branch 

 of trade is carried on, chiefly from the country 

 about Pitangui, to a great extent with the capital, 

 which it partly indemnifies for the want of fresh 

 butter. We had scarcely reached a rancho near 

 these strangers, and had the baggage piled up 

 round us, when we were invited by the inhabitant 

 of the only hut in the valley, to share his dwelU 



* Vellosia alocefolia (Mart. nov. gen. tab. 7.), Barbacenia 

 tomentosa (Ibid. tab. 11.). 



