9,82 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



both temporal and spiritual. It seems to be a considerable one, and 

 under excellent regulations. We admired the economy and order of 

 the place, and the good will with which the manager seemed to go. 

 through his duties. In the morning we were summoned to early Mass, 

 where we saw many well behaved attendants, had breakfast served in 

 our own apartment, and, when we wished to depart, the Brother 

 appeared, and blessed us. The House looks over the adjacent country, 

 consisting of a small plain, bounded by the ocean in front, and on the 

 sides by well wooded mountains. The bottoms, we were told, contain 

 much good land, several small lakes, stocked with fish, and some danger- 

 ous swamps, covered with water at high tides, and when the waves are 

 heaped upon the coast by violent gales. 



The plains of Jacarepua, on which we shortly afterward entered, 

 are surrounded by lofty Serros, except towards the sea. These are seven 

 or eight miles over, and strongly marked by a naked rock of Granite at 

 their Northern end. Its shape is hemispherical, or rather resembles 

 that of half ^n egg, cut in the plane of its longest axis. Its base is 

 nearly two miles round, its height six hundred and fifty feet, and its 

 sides steep. On its summit are some religious buildings, the ascent to 

 which is by steps cut in the rock. Such detached stones are not uncom- 

 mon along this coast ; when observed in front they generally appear like 

 cones ; in profile their outline presents the section of an elipse, and they 

 often prove the projecting spurs or buttresses of loftier grovind. That 

 they are not always what they seem, one solid mass, is evident from the 

 springs which not unfrequently burst from them, and sometimes form a 

 sort of reservoir on their summits. 



Our road now proceeded by the small village of Jacarepua, to join 

 the main or Royal road at Campinhos, about four miles distant ; but, 

 keeping to our plan, we turned to the right, entered a narrow dell, and 

 came to the estate of Senhor Tedin. Here we remarked a large and 

 excellent water-wheel, fed by the stream, without any artificial means of 

 securing a supply. Our horses again becoming fatigued by the steep and 

 difljcult yoad; we were driven to seek refreshment for them at ^ small 



