TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 223 



presidio, and particularly the priest, who, like 

 most of his parishioners, was of a brown com- 

 plexion, did their utmost to make our residence 

 in this wilderness agreeable and useful ', they daily 

 brought us some animals or plants which they 

 thought worthy of our attention. On these occa- 

 sions we could not sufficiently admire the accurate 

 practical knowledge which the inhabitants of this 

 retired spot had acquired in their intercourse with 

 nature ; they were able to distinguish almost every 

 animal, every tree, every plant of the forest, by 

 its peculiar name, and to give a particular account 

 of the properties of many of them. 



On the 10th of April, we left the presidio, andj 

 accompanied by a soldier, set out for the Fazenda 

 Guidowald. The road, though cut with rather 

 more care, scarcely seemed to indicate that we 

 were approaching the residence of the director- 

 general ; on the contrary, we sometimes had dif- 

 ficulty in passing without injury over the deep 

 ditches and holes. A dark forest covered us, 

 and the most singular notes of various animals 

 were heard in the distance. The magical solitude 

 and the wonderful luxuriance of the forest, kept 

 our mind balanced as it were between the feelings 

 of fear and joy. We beheld with astonishment on 

 the summits of the trees, many birds of the gayest 

 plumage, and bright garlands of the most beautiful 

 climbing plants and parasites ; but we were obliged 



