208 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



into the gardens of the Hesperides. Passing over 

 several streams v/hich were turned to good account, 

 and hills covered with young coppice wood, we at 

 length reached the terrace of the eminence along 

 which the spring water for the city is conducted. 

 A delightful prospect over the bay, the verdant 

 islands floating in it, the harbour with its crowd of 

 masts and various flags, and the city stretched out 

 at the foot of the most pleasant hills, the houses 

 and steeples dazzling in the sun, was spread before 

 our eyes. We dwelt long on the magical view of 

 a great European city, rising here amidst the pro- 

 fusion of tropical vegetation. We then pursued 

 the road along the windings the aqueduct. The 

 channel is chiefly built of blocks of granite, but 

 the vaulted covering, within which the naturalist 

 flnds many of the most singular phalangia, is of 

 brick. Between the woody hills there are diver- 

 sified romantic prospects into the valleys below. 

 Sometimes you traverse open spots where a stronger 

 light is reflected from the flowery ground, or from 

 th^ shining leaves of the neighbouring high trees, 

 sometimes you enter a cool shady bower. Here a 

 thick wreath of paulliniae, securida(58e, mikanias, 

 passion-flowers, adorned with an incredible num- 

 ber of flowers, climb through the crowns of the 

 celtis, the flowery rhexias and melastomas, bauhi- 

 nias, delicate mimosas, shining myrtles ; there, 

 bushy nightshades, sebastanias, eupatorias, crotons, 

 gegiphilas, and innumerable other plants, form an 



