LIFE IN RIO CONTINUED. 



85 



some bright-colored beads, which set off the fcrm of the 

 hand aud are exceedingly becoming on her dark, shining 

 skin. These negroes are Mohammedans, and are said to 

 remain faithful to their prophet, though surrounded by the 

 observances of the Catholic Church. They do not seem 

 to me so affable and responsive as the Congo negroes, but 

 are, on the contrary, rather haughty. One morning I came 

 upon a cluster of them in the market breakfasting after 

 their work was done, and I stopped to talk with them, ask- 

 ing what they had for breakfast, and trying various subjects 

 on which to open an acquaintance. But they looked at 

 me coldly and suspiciously, barely answering my questions, 

 and were evidently relieved when I walked away. 



May 2'dth. — Tijuca. In the pleasant environs of Rio 

 there is no resort more frequented than the establishment 

 of Mr. Bennett at Tijuca, and we were not sorry the day 

 before yesterday to leave the hot, dusty city, with a pleasant 

 party of friends, for this cluster of mountains, some eigh- 

 teen hundred feet above the sea level and about eight miles 

 from Rio. It takes its name from the peak of Tijuca, so 

 conspicuous an object in the coast range. On our arrival 

 we were very cordially welcomed by our host himself, who 

 was not quite a stranger to us, for Mr. Agassiz has been 

 already indebted to him for valuable collections. Mr. Ben- 

 nett has an Englishman's love of nature, and is very fa- 

 miliar with the botany and zoology of the beautiful region 

 which has been his home for many years. Under his guid- 

 ance, we have feaken a number of pleasant rambles and 

 rides, regretting only that we cannot avail ourselves for a 

 longer time of his intimate knowledge of the locality a^d 

 its productions. 



J have alluded before to the perplexing character of the 



