TRAVELS IN BRAZIL 



spot there is a beautiful view extending over the 

 woods, hills, valleys, and the city, to the sea, the 

 broad surface of which is lost in the distant hori- 

 zon. Towards the south the mountain is broken, . 

 and the prospect loses itself in a steep declivity 

 bounded by the blue bay of Bota-Fogo ; and still 

 farther, the bold masses of the Sugar-loaf Mountain 

 close the horizon. At this elevation, of about two 

 thousand feet, the difference in the temperature is 

 already so sensible, that you fancy yourself trans- 

 ported to a colder zone. Several streams flowing 

 from the ridge of the mountain are always some 

 degrees colder than the water in the aqueduct, and 

 at the approach of sunset the summit of the moun- 

 tain is enveloped in clouds which gradually sink 

 into the valley. 



We ascended the top of this high mountain only 

 once ; but, on the other hand, were the more fre- 

 quent in our visits to the aqueduct, the vicinity of 

 which affords the richest collection of plants and 

 animals. We were particularly desirous of follow- 

 ing farther the stream of Caryoca, as in the torrid 

 zone all animals prefer the vicinity of the springs. 

 On one of these excursions we came to a solitary 

 coffee plantation, which, as we afterwards learnt, 

 belonged to the English consul, Mr. Chamberlain, 

 who also amuses himself with entomology, and 

 has a rich collection of the insects of the neigh- 

 bourhood. Just as we arrived there, a beautiful 

 crimson snake (Colub, venustissimus, Neuw.) with 



