April, 1832. 



RIO DE JANEIRO. 



27 



April 14th. — Leaving Socego, we rode to another estate 

 on the Rio Macae, which was the last patch of cultivated 

 ground in that direction. The estate was two and a half 

 miles long, and the owner had forgotten how many broad. 

 Only a very small piece had been cleared, yet almost every 

 acre was capable of yielding all the various rich productions 

 of a tropical land. Considering the enormous area of Brazil, 

 the proportion of cultivated ground can scarcely be con- 

 sidered as any thing, compared to that which is left in the 

 state of nature : at some future age, how vast a population it 

 will support ! During the second day^s journey we found 

 the road so shut up, that it was necessary that a man should 

 go ahead with a sword to cut away the creepers. The forest 

 abounded with beautiful objects; among which the tree 

 ferns, though not large, were, from their bright green foliage, 

 and the elegant curvature of their fronds, most worthy of ad- 

 miration. In the evening it rained very heavily, and although 

 the thermometer stood at 65°, I felt very cold. As soon as 

 the rain ceased, it was curious to observe the extraordinary 

 evaporation which commenced over the whole extent of the 

 forest. At the height of a hundred feet the hills were buried 

 in a dense white vapour, which rose like columns of smoke 

 from the most thickly-wooded parts, and especially from the 

 valleys. I observed this phenomenon on several occasions : 

 I suppose it is owing to the large surface of foliage, pre- 

 viously heated by the sun's rays. 



While staying at this estate, I was very nearly being an 

 eyewitness to one of those atrocious acts, which can only 

 take place in a slave country. Owing to a quarrel and a law- 

 suit, the owner was on the point of taking all the women and 

 children from the men, and selling them separately at the 

 public auction at Rio. Interest, and not any feeling of com- 

 passion, prevented this act. Indeed, I do not believe the 

 inhumanity of separating thirty families, who had lived to- 

 gether for many years, even occurred to the person. Yet I 

 will pledge myself, that in humanity and good feeling, he 



