TRAVELS IN BRAZIL 



ponaceous matter. There are here many species 

 of still higher trees, which are used, for burning into 

 charcoal. These manufactories are managed in 

 exactly the same manner as in Europe, principally 

 in the driest months from July to September, and 

 are very profitable on account of the scarcity of 

 firewood for the use of the city. They now begin 

 to be carried on with activity, since Mr. Feldner 

 has proved, by examining the coal mines near 

 Bahia, that very little is to be expected from them. 



From our want of experience in the mode of 

 travelling in this country, we had taken with us 

 from Rio much superfluous baggage, and now 

 found it necessary to lighten the burden of our 

 mules. Having accordingly selected whatever could 

 be dispensed with, and left behind, we set out 

 from Santa Cruz on the 11th of December, and 

 were accompanied part of the way by our friend. 

 A very good road leads S.W., almost in a straight 

 line, to a bridge, where a barrier was erected to 

 examine travellers in the interior of the provinces 

 of Rio and S. Paulo, but particularly to prevent a 

 contraband trade with gold dust, from the interior 

 to the coast. The country is an open level, wa- 

 tered by numerous pools and streams, and is 

 bounded to the south and west by the Serra do 

 Mar, which runs along the sea-coast at different 

 distances, and here sends out a branch nearly in a 

 direction from west to east, which, under the name 

 of Serra da Ilha Grande, extends to the bay of 



