TO CAPE FRIO. 



41 



country : for all the bushes, especially the mimosas, are full of little 

 thorns, and the various kinds of bindweed are so closely intertwined 

 round the trunks of the trees, that you cannot penetrate into these 

 wildernesses without a wood-knife. It is equally necessary to be 

 provided with strong thick-soled boots or hunting shoes. 



The mosquitoes are also extremely troublesome to the hunter, both 

 in the shade and near the water. These little animals are called 

 marui ; they are very small, but their sting causes a violent itching. 

 I have been assured by some English travellers, that they differ in no 

 respect from the sand-fly of the West-Indies. We were, however, 

 richly indemnified for the trouble they gave us, by the novelty of the 

 surrounding objects, especially the beauty of the birds. We found 

 at this place many fine plants ; among others, in the shade, a salvia 

 having a deep red flower, which our botanist called splendcns, and 

 also ajusticia bearing a rose-coloured blossom. 



As, notwithstanding the excessive heat, the ground was still very 

 wet under these bushes from the night dew, I repaired to a dry, open 

 meadow, covered with low shrubs, particularly the lantana, and the 

 asclepias curassavica, having orange-coloured flowers. Here a number 

 of humming-birds fluttered and buzzed about the flowers like bees. 

 On my return I shot several of them. 



We saw^ but few quadrupeds durmg our first excursion, except a 

 little tapiti, or Brazilian hare. This animal is found all over South 

 America ; it resembles our wild rabbit, and its flesh is good eating. 

 Francisco, Mr. Freyreiss's Indian attendant, who shot the tapiti, was 

 our most skflful hunter, for he knew how to manage the gun as well 

 as the bow, and his dexterity in creeping through the most thorny 

 and intricate labyrinths was astonishing. As a reward we always 

 gave him the birds after they were skinned ; and having contrived 

 to roast them on a little wooden spit, they afforded him an agreeable 

 treat. 



G 



