NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



in the valley is a large plantation of peach trees, in blossom at the time 

 of our visit, but without promising appearances of fruit. On the stream, 

 from the Eastward, is a mill with a broad breast water wheel, evidently 

 copied from similar erections in the Old World, but without skill to 

 adjust and proportion its parts; on the low grounds was an attempt 

 at irrigation, capable, as it may be supposed, of considerable im- 

 provement. 



The Padre is represented as an ambitious man, particularly desirous 

 of obtaining a visit from Royalty, and straining every nerve to further 

 his own views. For this purpose he makes presents of produce and fruits 

 from his estate, and is said to be very poor and deeply in debt ; never- 

 theless, his slaves are in good order, and appear to be comfortable. At 

 this place I once joined a botanizing party of my countrymen, and then 

 we consisted of five persons, with a servant attached to each. On the 

 third day of our visit, we were surprised to find, notwithstanding the 

 splendour and magnitude of the establishment, that we had exhausted all 

 its fresh provisions ; that not a fowl, duck, nor pig could be found about 

 the place ; so scanty are the means of comfort among Brazilians, or rather 

 so different are their ideas of luxury from ours. 



Our shooting here, which yielded plenty of game, produced us also 

 a bird very common in this part of Brazil, called from the figure of its 

 tail and its custom of opening and shutting it while flying, the Tesoura 

 or Shears. It is a bird of prey, about the size of a kite, has a hooked 

 bill and talons, the head and belly are white, the back wings and tail black, 

 the wings long and powerful, the tail is also long and remarkably forked, 

 the plumage is generally ample, and contains a great proportion of 

 down near the skin. 



As we proceeded along the valley, it became narrower, increased its 

 beauty, and essentially changed its character, becoming a narrow dell, 

 where it was necessary to cut a road on the side of the mountain, which 

 conducted sometimes to the brink of the river, and at others over con- 

 siderable elevations, until it terminated in a flat clayey level, covered 

 with brushwood. Here, while alone, I met with two young men well 



