TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 145 



able species of malpighia, myrtles, and guava (P«- 

 dium), are the predominant and characteristic forms. 

 The rocks, according to the accounts which we 

 were able to obtain, resemble, in the greater part 

 of this tract, what we had ourselves observed on 

 our road ; namely, primitive, i. e. mica-slate or 

 granite. Lime is said to be very rare ; for which 

 reason the inhabitants of the province of Parana 

 use, in erecting walls, a kind of clay {tabatinga) 

 which forms strata here and there by the side of 

 the rivers, and which is burnt white in the fire. 

 In the character of its climate too, this whole river 

 district has the greatest uniformity ; as the eleva- 

 tion above the level of the sea, in the most northern 

 and mountainous part, makes up for the greater 

 distance of the southern part from the equator. 

 Neither the heat nor the cold are excessive in this 

 healthy district ; but hoar-frost is not unfrequent 

 upon the mountains during the cold months (from 

 May to October). The mean heat of the year 

 appears to be rather below than above 15° or 16° 

 Reaumur's thermometer. The difference between 

 the temperature of the water and the air, as well 

 as that by day and by night, is proportionably 

 greater than in the lower latitudes. Thunder- 

 storms generally come from the N. and N.W., and 

 the prevailing wind, during the cold season, S.W. 

 and W. The cultivation of the sugar-cane suc- 

 ceeds in the low grounds near the rivers, but is not 

 extensive ; very few attempts have hitherto been 



VOL. II. L 



