SOUTH AMERICA. 



139 



of cap-stone, on the top of a bare mass of granite; and 

 from some rude resemblance, which I could not dis- 

 cover, it had received its name. Below it on the same 

 ridge stands the sugar loaf, whose summit appeared 

 to be on a level with us, but could hardly have been 

 so, as its height is estimated at nine hundred feet from 

 the water's edge, though not half that height on the 

 side where it joins the ridge. Behind us the mountain 

 rose to a great height, and covered with trees of a pro- 

 digious size. Having determined to return to the city, 

 we followed the path along the side of the aqueduct, 

 and with a much more gradual descent than that by 

 which we had ascended. On our way we remarked 

 a considerable space where the granitic rock, from 

 which the soil had slipped off, was apparently in a 

 state of decomposition; the point of a cane was thrust 

 in without experiencing any greater resistance than 

 from stiff clay; this was also the case with the broad 

 veins of spar with which the mass was penetrated. 

 As we approached the city the path gradually widen- 

 ed, and within a mile we found a spacious sloping 

 walk planted on each side with beautiful trees, of which 

 we found the advantage at this time, as the sun was be- 

 ginning to send forth his rays unobstructed by friend- 

 ly clouds. We were accosted repeatedly, by negroes 

 Who offered to sell us some of the beautiful insects of 

 the country, upon which they had been taught to place 

 a value, probably by the recent visit of the European 

 philosophers, or by persons employed to make collec- 

 tions for European cabinets. We remarked a number 

 of the lower ridges or mounds carefully cultivated in 

 grass; but the declivity was such as to require tliem 

 to be crossed in every direction in a reticulated man- 



