NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



313 



ill such cases, from the bottom to the top; the timber felled on the 

 summit being cleared of its boughs, was then brought to the slips and 

 thrown down. A trunk frequently stops by the way, others are then 

 sent after it, until the accumulating weight overcomes the impediment, 

 and the whole descends thundering together. More than once we were 

 in danger from such falls, as the closeness of the underwood prevents 

 a traveller from seeing what is near him. Yet the horses, when in good 

 condition, keeping their eyes and ears always employed, seldom fail to 

 communicate to their riders useful wax-ning. 



About four miles from America, we passed over the lake of the 

 same name, at a part which is not more than five or six hundred yards 

 wide, arid three or four feet deep. It is nearly eight miles long, and 

 in some places two in breadth. The bottom is a hard sand, yet from the 

 abundance of aquatic plants, it probably contains large patches of mud. 

 Like the other lakes, it has on it multitudes of Divers Galinhas d'agua, 

 Gulls, and Urubus. The Fishery is claimed by Government, and is let 

 to the highest bidder, for a term of three years. Its Tupi name, Curu- 

 rupina, the stinging toad, is manifestly derived from one of the most 

 disgusting inhabitants of the water, which resembles a toad in its figure, 

 with long flexible rays instead of legs, the spines of which it throws out 

 at pleasure, and inflicts with them painful punctures. Here we joined 

 the road which has been already described. 



Ponta Negra, a bluff, bold point towards the sea, is the abutment 

 of a primitive Serro, on each side of which is a sandy plain. The 

 distance from one to the other is about four miles, over a strongly undu- 

 lated tract of granite and red clay. Before entering upon it we meet 

 with that wonderful convenience, a spacious and well regulated Venda, 

 whose accommodations however cannot be classed higher than those of 

 a British Pot-house. While at one time partaking of them, I had 

 determined to have such a supper as might be obtained, observed a Negro 

 bringing vegetables for sale, and saw the means of securing a feast. 

 The master of the house bought them all for less than two-pence, and as 



much rum as would make the man heartily drunk. Soon afterwards my 



n r 



