LAST DAYS IN BRAZIL. 227 



unfortunately, its architecture is unworthy of the beautiful 

 aqueduct. 



As long since as 1537 the waters of the Rio Carioca 

 were praised by Gabriel Souza, who states that the Tamo- 

 yos (native Indians), who inhabited the borders of the bay, 

 had a tradition that its waters possessed the virtue of in- 

 spiring their poets and musicians. It was supposed also 

 to have the power of curing melancholia and hypochon- 

 driasis. The word " Carioca " has many interpretations, of 

 which the most probable appears to be from Kaa-ry-og, 

 " the house of the stream from the wood." 



Leaving the lovely Mae d'Agua, we soon came to the 

 road from Larangeiras, and I took our friends to examine 

 the railway viaduct. We then quietly ascended the Cor- 

 covado by the same route that I have previously described, 

 and were again favoured with a cloudless view of the 

 splendid panorama, with which all were as much enchanted 

 as I was on both occasions. At length, the sun being low 

 on the horizon, we were forced to tear ourselves away, 

 and, walking down in the cool, took the tram back to our 

 quarters at Botafogo. 



July 28. — After having been in a state of expectancy, 

 awaiting the arrival of the Valparaiso for the last two days, 

 she really came in this morning ; but as she was supposed 

 not to leave till to-morrow, I had hoped to spend the 

 afternoon in paying farewell visits, which the excursions 

 of the last few days — when at length I was freed from 

 the daily routine at the office — have, of course, prevented. 

 However, we were informed that we must embark at 3 p.m., 

 as the steamer would depart at four ; consequently, most 

 reluctantly, I was obliged to forego saying adieu to the 

 few friends I possess here, as they lived at some distance, 

 and went instead to the market to buy some birds. 



