THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 243 



Bennet Hotel in the Tijuca valley, where we put up during 

 our visit. On the afternoon of the same day we walked down 

 through a valley stretching from Tijuca to the low-lying 

 country near the sea, outside the harbour of Eio, and which 

 commands a grand view of the curious anvil-shaped peak 

 of La Gavia, or Lord Hood's Nose of seamen. Through a 

 gorge in this valley a stream of considerable size runs, form- 

 ing several fine cascades ; and close to its track lie a number 

 of gigantic boulders, heaped together in the most wonderful 

 manner. So great is the size of some, that cottages in 

 their vicinity appear dwarfed when compared with them, 

 and the broad flat top of one has been utilised for drying 

 coffee upon, a low wall being built round the edges. A most 

 curious effect was produced, as may be well imagined, by the 

 sight of a man walking about on the top of this great stone, 

 and raking out his coffee. Many of these boulders were 

 clothed with a vegetation of Agaves, Cacti, Orchids, Bromeli- 

 acece, and climbing Arads ; and in the cavities left beneath 

 them, where they were piled upon one another, various strange 

 lianas depended. The sides of most were so steep and smooth 

 as to render their ascent impossible, but we contrived to get 

 to the top of one on which various small shrubs and trees 

 were growing. Many fine ferns of various genera were met 

 with on this occasion, and we refreshed ourselves with much 

 satisfaction with the oranges and loquats which were growing 

 in abundance at the sides of the road. The latter tree, 

 Eriohotrya Japonica, a native of Japan, as its name implies, 

 as well as of South China, is doubtless familiar to many of 

 my readers, being cultivated in India and the southern parts 

 of Europe. It bears large oblong evergreen leaves, and white 

 flowers succeeded by pale orange, somewhat pear-shaped, 

 fruits containing large brown seeds, and possessed of a most 



