^58 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



and melons, produce through the whole year, but 

 most abundantly, however, during the wet season. 

 The pisang, guava, oranges, &c,, blossom in the 

 rainy season from October to March, and produce 

 fruit in the dry season. 



In this climate, as in all others, unfavourable 

 influences are not wanting which are hurtful to the 

 plants. The finest orange groves frequently fail 

 a prey to the brown ants which gnaw off the bark, 

 or to the mole- crickets which devour the roots. 

 The young mandiocca and sugar plantations are 

 often invaded, stripped of their leaves, and laid 

 waste, by similar enemies in incredible numbers, 

 or deprived of their roots by the wasps which live 

 under ground. But even when the crop has hap- 

 pily reached maturity, the owner must share it 

 with many foreign guests. Swarms of monkeys, 

 flocks of parrots and other birds, attack the plant- 

 ations ; the paca, agouti, and other kinds of wild 

 swine, eat up the leaves, stalks, and fruits, and 

 myriads of tenthredoes injure the crop. The 

 planter himselti particularly if he has just arrived 

 fi'om Europe, and is unaccustomed to this climate, 

 has many hard trials to undergo from tormenting 

 animals. If he does not keep his dwelling closed, 

 particularly in the morning, evening, and night, 

 there are swarms of large and small musquittoes 

 which torment him with their stings, even through 

 the thickest clothes, and only gauze or silk, can 

 secure him against these enemies. The earth-flies 



