DEPARTURE FROM SOCEGO 



27 



of their sensitive petioles. It is easy to specify the individual 

 objects of admiration in these grand scenes ; but 

 it is not possible to give an adequate idea of 

 the higher feelings of wonder, astonishment, and 

 devotion, which fill and elevate the mind. 



April I gth. — Leaving Socego, during the two 

 first days we retraced our steps. It was very 

 wearisome work, as the road generally ran across 

 a glaring hot sandy plain, not far from the coast. 



1 noticed that each time the horse put its foot on 

 the fine siliceous sand, a gentle chirping noise 

 was produced. On the third day we took 

 a different line, and passed through the gay 

 little village of Madre de Deos. This is 

 one of the principal lines of road in Brazil ; 

 yet it was in so bad a state that no wheel 

 vehicle, excepting the clumsy bullock- 

 waggon, could pass along. In our whole 

 journey we did not cross a single bridge 

 built of stone ; and those made of logs of 

 wood were frequently so much out of 

 repair that it was necessary to go on 

 one side to avoid them. All dis- 

 tances are inaccurately known. The 

 road is often marked by crosses, in 

 the place of milestones, to signify 

 where human 

 blood has been 

 spilled. On the 

 evening of the 



2 3 rd we arrived 

 at Rio, having 

 finished our 

 pleasant little 

 excursion. 



During the 

 remainder of my 



stay at Rio, I resided in a cottage at Botofogo Bay. It was 

 impossible to wish for an}'thing more delightful than thus to 



MAXDIOCA OR CASSAVA. 



