76 RIO JANEIRO. 
the highest. On their way they found many interesting plants ; among 
them the Epiphytic Orchidese, slender Cecropias, rising to the height 
of one hundred feet without a limb, arborescent fern trees forty feet 
in height, and numerous parasitical plants hanging from the various 
trees in great profusion ; Bromelias, Bigonias, &c. On reaching the 
top he found trees stunted and gnarled of about thirty feet in height. 
A good idea will be given of the richness of the Brazilian Flora by 
the fact, that when mounted in the tree top, he collected specimens of 
three flowering trees not before seen, and three species of mistletoes. 
The same afternoon they reached Estrella, but found their guide 
had not procured any passage for them. They, however, succeeded 
after some difficulty in procuring one, set out before sunset, and 
reached Rio the next morning by three o'clock, having been greatly 
tormented by the musquitoes, and a minute fly, which was even more 
troublesome. 
Finding that the repairs had not proceeded so rapidly as I antici- 
pated, I readily gave permission for a second jaunt, which they 
undertook in the direction of Piedade. Piedade is on the eastern 
side of the bay, nearly opposite to Estrella. On landing, they 
proceeded to Trexal, at the foot of the mountain, sixteen miles from 
Piedade, where travellers may get good lodgings, &,c, for Brazil. 
The next day they took the route by the pass to Mr. March's. The 
summit of this pass commands a magnificent and extensive prospect, 
and is called Buena Vista. They reached the Fazenda of Mr. March 
about midday. It is situated in a beautiful valley, immediately 
behind the main ridge, and between two mountains. The houses 
were overflowing with visiters, who had assembled to pass the 
holidays. This estate is large, embracing some thirty miles square, 
but only a very small proportion of it is cultivated. A large number 
of negroes were about the establishment, and every thing is kept in 
perfect order. It is a place of fashionable resort for the inhabitants 
of Rio, especially the English. The houses were comfortable after 
the Brazilian style. The garden and grounds are laid out on the Eng- 
lish plan, and well stocked with very fine fruits, peaches, apples, pears, 
plums, gooseberries, all of which come to perfection. Of vegetables, 
they have potatoes, cabbage, turnips, carrots, beets, onions, parsnips, 
celery, and lettuce. Bananas will not ripen, the temperature being 
frequently as low as 40°. Mr. March said his houses were situated 
three thousand one hundred and fifty feet above the level of the sea, 
and the peaks in the vicinity are about one thousand feet higher. 
