TO THE EIO GRANDE DE BELMONTE. 



243 



to 20 feet high, where the sea-wind does not blow too violently ; but 

 on the coast it is smaller. Its handsome orange-coloured round fruit 

 has a sweetish taste, but is said not to be wholesome. On the flat 

 firm sand, beyond the reach of the foaming surf, crept a beautiful 

 purple bell-flower, (ipomea littoralis,) with long dark-brown shoots, 

 like cords, and thick roundish oval, milky leaves; we found it on 

 most parts of the coast, where it binds the sand. This is also done by 

 the two yellow-flowering plants of the class diadelphia, the one lying 

 down and spreading upon the ground, a new kind of sophora ; the 

 other the guilandina bonduc. Linn., often three or four feet high, 

 with a broad, short, very rough prickly pod. Between these plants 

 the hard strand grass, f j-etniria littoralis,) grows every where in 

 abundance. 



Towards evening we came to a rapid stream, which is called the 

 Barra Velha, because it is the old or former mouth of the river Alco- 

 bapa, which we reached soon afterwards. These little streams on the 

 sea-coast are often great obstacles to the traveller, as he is liable to 

 be detained by them six or eight hours. We had arrived at the 

 Barra Velha at the unfavourable time; it was much swelled and 

 rapid ; nothing remained therefore but to have the beasts unloaded and 

 to stop here. Farther back in the thicket, a few people lived, but of 

 this circumstance we were not informed till afterwards. Seated be- 

 hind the fallen trunk of an old tree, which sheltered us in some 

 measure from the piercing sea-wind that drifted the fine sand of the 

 coast towards us, we soon kindled a brilliant fire, round which we all 

 lay down upon the blankets and cloaks. We saw here one of the fine 

 man-of-war birds, (pelicanus aquilus. Linn, halieiis, Illig.) which are 

 seen on the coast of Brazil flying at a considerable height, four, five, 

 or more together. After taking a very scanty supper, we passed the 

 night on this dreary spot, very insufficiently protected by our cloaks 

 against the sharp piercing wind. We therefore joyfully hailed the 



