TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



211 



It belongs to Count Hogendorp, who, having been 

 much affected by the poUtical changes in the state 

 of Europe, passes his days here, far from the world 

 and from politics, in intercourse with nature, and 

 thinks it not below his dignity to provide for his 

 subsistence by preparing charcoal from the trees on 

 his estate. We had been previously introduced to 

 him, and admired the firmness and strength of 

 mind of a man, who, retired from the ever-changing 

 tumult of worldly affairs, felt himself happy in a 

 confined habitation, and in view of the ocean roll- 

 ing from the shores of St. Helena. 



At the cascade of Caryoca the road turns aside 

 from the aqueduct, and leads over a dry eminence 

 covered with low trees and shrubs, to the forest 

 which clothes the ridge of the Corcovado. The 

 narrow steep path passes over several streams. The 

 vegetation is uncommonly, strong and luxuriant j 

 but the higher we ascend, the large trees gradually 

 become more rare, and the bamboos and ferns more 

 numerous, among which is a beautiful arborescent 

 fern fifteen feet in height.* When you have made 

 your way tlirough the last thicket you reach the 

 green summit of the mountain, where single shrubs, 

 among which is a magnificent arborescent vel- 

 losia t, offer to the eye a vegetation resembling 

 that of the higher campos of Minas. From this 



* Polypodium Corcovadense. (Raddi Synopsis silic. Bras. Bo- 

 non. 1819. 4to. p. 10. No. 76.) 



f Vellosia Candida Mik. (Delect, flor. et faun. Bras. t. 7.) 



P 2 



