ARRIVAL AT PERNAMBUCO. 



3 



as far as the eye can reach ; southward of the 

 town are also seen great numbers of coco trees, 

 woods, and scattered cottages. The situation 

 of Olinda is the highest in the neighbourhood ; 

 and though not very high, is still not despicable. 

 Its appearance from the sea is most delightful j 

 its white-washed churches and convents upon 

 the tops and sides of the hill ; its gardens and 

 trees, interspersed amongst the houses, afford a 

 promise of great extent, and hold out expect- 

 ations of great beauty. The sands, which ex- 

 tend one league to the southward of it, are 

 relieved by two fortresses erected upon them, 

 and by the ships in the lower harbour. Then 

 follows the town of Recife, with the appearance 

 of being built in the water, so low is the sand- 

 bank upon which it has been raised ; the ship- 

 ping immediately in front partly conceal it ; and 

 the bold reef of rocks on the outside of these, 

 with the surf dashing violently against and over 

 it, give to them the appearance of being ashore; 

 and as no outlet is seen, they seem to be hemmed 

 in. The small tower or fort at the northern end 

 of the reef, however, soon claims attention, and 

 points out the entrance. We approached the 

 land rather to the southward of the town, and 



the word from the Portuguese language, it may perhaps not 

 be considered improper to distinguish the two plants in this 

 manner. 



B °2 





