544 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
branches appear dry and dead; but when the trunk is pierced 
a sweet and nourishing milk follows the incision.” 
Shall we now describe the wild beauties of the impenetrable 
forests of Guyana? take our walk in these immense savannahs, 
animated by Graminacex, by clusters of Myrtacex, magnificent 
Orchids and Melastoma, while elegant Palm-trees here and 
there arrange themselves in picturesque groups? or shall we 
rather navigate the tranquil waves of the quiet. Guyana, upon 
“ whose waters the splendid Victoria Regia spreads her broad 
leaves, while its magnificent flowers proclaim her queen of the 
Nymphaceze ? 
In order to penetrate to the heart of the vegetation of Brazil, 
the region of Palms and Melastoma, this land of promise to 
naturalists, we shall again take as our guide Messieurs Martins and 
Auguste de St. Hilaire, who have written with much exactness 
on the vegetable wonders displayed in the Brazilian forests. 
Their aspect varies according to the nature of the soil, and the 
distribution of water traversing them. If these forests are not 
the seat of a constant supply of moisture, or if the moisture is 
only renewed by periodical rains, the drought stops the vegetation, 
and it becomes intermittent, ‘as in European climates. This is the 
case in the Catingas. The vegetation of the untrodden forests, on 
the contrary, of which Auguste de St: Hilaire gives an eloquent 
picture, is the reverse of this; excited by the ceaseless action of 
the two agents, humidity and heat, the vegetation of the virgin 
forests remains in a state of continual activity. The winter is only 
distinguished from the summer by a shade of colour in the verdure 
of the foliage; and if some of the trees lose their leaves, it is 
to assume immediately a new appearance. Now let us listen to 
the French botanist. Auguste de St. Hilaire says, “ When an 
European arrives in America, and sees from a distance the un- 
trodden forests for the first time, he is no longer astonished at 
all the singular forms which he admired in European hothouses; 
here they are mingled in masses and lost. But he is astonished 
to find in the outline of the forests so little difference between 
those of his own country and those of the New World. If 
anything strikes him, it is only the grandeur of the proportions 
and the deep green colour of the leaves, which, under the most 
* 
