NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



271 



wind laid the canoa on her side, with her sail in the water ; she righted, 

 however, and we pursued our course along the Western shore, enjoying 

 the picturesque beauties of the scene, and the seeming comfort of the 

 inhabitants. 



On another occasion we proceeded to the West, and coasted along 

 the fine wood of Mangue, which, growing far within high water-mark, 

 demands the notice of those who are accustomed to the naked and 

 dreary appearance of Northern shores. When the tide is out, this 

 marine wood displays myriads of oysters ; at high water, it affords a 

 secure retreat to a great multitude of birds. The banks are no sooner 

 sufficiently solid than they begin to afford a situation for lofty trees, on 

 which is frequently seen the plumed Succoo. This shy, but interesting 

 bird, is nearly as large as the common Stork, white, with a yellow bill 

 and legs. It is distinguished by a tuft of feathers, wliich grows from a 

 membrane between the scapulars, and reaches the whole length of the 

 back, resembling the tail of the Bird of Paradise. We secured one of 

 these Herons, and showing it to our host, when we returned, his son 

 suddenly seized it, and tore off the plume. No persuasions could induce 

 him to restore his prey, for he intended it, as he alledged, for his 

 Colonel's hat ; and we were not forward to use force on such an occasion, 

 out of respect to his father. His conduct showed, however, the esteem 

 in w^hich he thought his present would be held , and, in fact, such 

 plumes have since very generally adorned the caps of military officers. 



On this expedition we ascended a river, which conducted us to the 

 plains of Santa Cruz ; and I was informed that, shortly afterwards, the 

 London, a British ship of ninety guns, went up to the same point. 

 About two miles farther Westward, coasting the same forest of Mangue, 

 we came to the mouth of the Taguahy, which, rising in the mountains 

 of Tengua, issues from them a small rivulet, skirts the Western side of 

 the plains, washes the foot of the vast Serro, which divides the province 

 of Rio de Janeiro from St. Paul's, and, at length, becomes the most 

 considerable of the streams which fall into this bay. These two rivers 

 run parallel to each other for several miles, and appear to have formerly 



