242 NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



Swamps render the road to the spot very bad, and the absolute want of 

 every convenience for invalids prevents their receiving any advantage 

 from this salutary provision of nature. 



On the bank of the St. Francisco was recently found, beneath the 

 surface of the water, a very extraordinary crystal, formed round the root 

 of a tree, and upwards of twenty-four inches long. Next to the wood 

 was a coating, about half an inch thick, white at the surface, and gradur 

 ally changing toward the wood into the common appearance of flint, 

 but at the bottom somewhat darker. On it stood, in regular order, 

 white and transparent pyramids, half an inch high, each made up of 

 four equilateral triangles, of which pyramids there were about fifteen in 

 every circle. The root was much decayed, and dropped out, leaving a 

 long tube, whose bore was three inches in diameter, and whose internal 

 surface displayed the impression of the knots and marks of the wood, 

 retaining also fragments of the bark attached to it. This crystal was 

 found by four men, who, disagreeing about its value, broke it into as 

 many parts, and each took one. William Harrison, Esq. of Rio de 

 Janeiro, became possessed of one of these pieces, and sent it, 1 believe, 

 to his friends in Liverpool. There were apparent indications of the 

 manner in which this Fossil advanced to its full size, by Laminas 

 successively laid on the pyramids, and the base thickening in conse- 

 quence. Not only, as it seemed to me, do such Fossils grow, but I 

 apprehend that, where the situation and circumstances are favourable, 

 they are produced in a comparatively short period. But how formed, 

 and from what materials, 1 presume not to say. 



The Military Establishment is trifling; a few troops of the line 

 are stationed in redoubts, in the continental parts of the province, at 

 the distance of from seven miles to twenty from the coast. Their only 

 object is to keep in check the native Indians, who are in complete 

 possession of the mountains. 



The death of an old Governor gave an opportunity of witnessing 

 a curious Funereal Ceremony. The corpse was dressed in the same 



