32 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



mountains of singular form, uncouth names, and stupendous altitude. 

 During the morning fogs, which hover about the shore, some of these 

 raise their heads high above the mists, and serve as guides to the portd 

 The Gavia is the most to the west, of the greatest height, and has a 

 remarkable flat top, which seems an immense cube, or table of stone with 

 perpendicular sides, placed upon a mountain. The Corcovado is a little 

 more to the Eastward, a lofty point of rock, which appears to pierce the hea- 

 vens. Steering for this, when far out at sea, brings a vessel near to the Sugar 

 Loaf, a much lower and conical mountain, with its steepest side to the 

 West. Close to the foot of this rock, lies the passage into the harbour. 



While rounding the isle Pay, the entrance is not visible, but in 

 proportion as the Sugar Loaf draws to the Northward of the ship, the 

 gorge opens, and through it is beheld the calm expanse of what is gene- 

 rally deemed the finest bay in the world. The entrance is about a 

 mile wide, and fenced on either side by solid masses of granite, one 

 entire stone without a chink ; that on the West is nearly six hundred 

 feet high, commonly estimated at much more; its neighbour, on the 

 other side, rears its head to a somewhat greater elevation, and is topped 

 with a signal staff, from which the first notice is given to the city of 

 approaching vessels. Both hills are very abrupt, and skirted with Forts, 

 the advance to which is defended on both sides by strong double curtains. 

 Immediately in front, and about a mile within the narrowest part of the 

 entrance, is the battery of the Lage, a square low Fort, situated upon a 

 mass of naked rocks, against which the water breaks with violence, 

 and in stormy weather sometimes overtops the battlements, reduc- 

 ing the garrison to great distress and some danger. The Fort of 

 Santa Cruz, on the right hand, is very respectable ; but the guns are 

 placed too high, and the water is deep close to the rock, so that small 

 vessels may render them perfectly useless. 



At every step, if such a phrase may be used in reference to the 

 motion of a ship, new beauties unfold themselves, as we proceed into^ 

 and up, the harbour. At the mouth, is frequently a very heavy, and 

 sometimes dangerous swell ; and formerly foreign ships were obliged to 



