NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



327 



It was to see an estate on sale, that we undertook this voyage. We 

 found it lying on the Western side of the Dourado, and butting upon 

 the river St. Joan, after it had made a considerable curve, above the 

 mouth of its trifeutary stream. The land was very good, though moist ; 

 the mountains towards the North, rough and imposing ; three of them, 

 called the Three Kings, peculiarly grand. It appeared decidedly unsuit- 

 able to our purpose, on account of the difficulties in the navigation, and 

 its moisture toward the larger river. 



On the way down the St. Joan, I paid some attention to a remark- 

 able mountain, from which, in our upward voyage, we were glad to make 

 a hasty retreat, because it was enveloped in a cloud, and the rain fell in 

 remarkably large drops. It is close to the river, of a conical form, and 

 rises steeply to the height of six or seven hundred feet ; the soil seems 

 rich, and the wood upon it is luxuriant ; it is said also to abound in 

 chrysolites. Both of our conductors had ascended it, and according to 

 their own account had examined it carefully. They reported that there 

 was a round basin of water at the top, but had observed no other appear- 

 ances which favoured the notion of this having been the crater of a 

 volcano ; nor was there any thing like lava or tufa to be seen at the base. 

 Near the village we had picked up some scoria, which led to inquiries for 

 similar substances ; and the result confirmed me in the belief, that it was 

 not in this instance a volcanic production. Neither in any other part of 

 the country could I ever find or hear of indubitable traces of subterra- 

 neous fire ; though the peaks appearing along the lower ridge of moun- 

 tains which line its shores, might naturally excite the expectation of 

 meeting with volcanic substances among them, I have heard indeed, of 

 what were called earthquakes, occurring at Goyaz, at Juriioca, and 

 Ilha Grande ; and sulphur certainly exists in the earth near St. 

 Catharine's. 



A circumstance will by some be accounted worthy of remark, which 

 was noted in passing the St. Joan on a different occasion. Of two horses 

 which swam by the side of the canoa, one, seemingly well made for 

 exertion in the water, rolled about in a singular manner, sometimes 



