APPEARANCE OF THE FORESTS 25 



piece had been cleared, yet almost every acre was capable of 

 yielding all the various rich productions of a tropical land. 

 Considering the enormous area of Brazil, the proportion of 

 cultivated ground can scarcely be considered as anything com- 

 pared to that which is left in the state of nature : at some 

 future age, how vast a population it will support ! During the 

 second day's journey we found the road so shut up that it was 

 necessary that a man should go ahead with a sword to cut 

 away the creepers. The forest abounded with beautiful objects ; 

 among which the tree ferns, though not large, were, from their 

 bright green foliage, and the elegant curvature of their fronds, 

 most worthy of admiration. In the evening it rained very 

 heavily, and although the thermometer stood at 65°, I felt very 

 cold. As soon as the rain ceased, it was curious to observe the 

 extraordinary evaporation which commenced over the whole 

 extent of the forest. At the height of a hundred feet the hills 

 were buried in a dense white vapour, which rose like columns 

 of smoke from the most thickly- wooded parts, and especially from 

 the valleys. I observed this phenomenon on several occasions : 

 I suppose it is owing to the large surface of foliage, previously 

 heated by the sun's rays. 



While staying at this estate, I was very n^rly being an eye- 

 witness to one of those atrocious acts which can only take place 

 in a slave country. Owing to a quarrel and a lawsuit, the 

 owner was on the point of taking all the women and children 

 from the male slaves, and selling them separately at the public 

 auction at Rio. Interest, and not any feeling of compassion, 

 prevented this act. Indeed, I do not believe the inhumanity of 

 separating thirty families, who had lived together for many years, 

 even occurred to the owner. Yet I will pledge myself, that in 

 humanity and good feeling he was superior to the common run 

 of men. It may be said there exists no limit to the blindness of 

 interest and selfish habit. I may mention one very trifling anec- 

 dote, which at the time struck me more forcibly than any story 

 of cruelty. I was crossing a ferry with a negro who was un- 

 commonly stupid. In endeavouring to make him understand, I 

 talked loud, and made signs, in doing which I passed my hand 

 near his face. He, I suppose, thought I was in a passion, 

 and was going to strike him ; for instantly, with a frightened 

 look and half-shut eyes, he dropped his hands. I shall never 



