110 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



about 2500 feet in height. From this there is a 

 delightful view over a neighbouring valley, at the 

 bottom of which stands a solitary chapel. The 

 Morro de Lopo, almost everywhere covered with 

 sombre woods, and at least 3000 feet high, com- 

 mands the whole range of mountains. It was for- 

 merly the abode of numerous American wolves 

 {Lupus mexicanus) ; these animals seem now to 

 live more in Minas Geraes, where we also saw 

 them for the first time. The road meanders in 

 various turnings through the mountains, the valleys 

 of which become narrower the higher you ascend* 

 The chief formation is still granite, in which 

 there occur beds of hornblende rock. Except a few 

 wretched huts inhabited by mamelukes and other 

 people of colour, there are no traces of men in 

 this solitary tract. The araucarias which grow on 

 the declivities of the mountain, harmonise with 

 the sombre character of the landscape. Their 

 straight and lofty stems do not branch out till a 

 great height from the ground, and the boughs 

 thickly covered with acerose leaves, unite in a 

 broad, dark green, pyramidal crown. These ma- 

 jestic trees always standing distinct and only 

 touching with their crowns, form long avenues 

 with a fiat roof, which are inhabited by fiocks of 

 green parrots {Fsittacus cest'wus). The araucaria 

 is the only tree of the natural family of the protea, 

 which we met with during our whole journey ; 



