26 Prince Maxiinilian' s 



genus of phyllostoma, and was very similar to Agara's chauvesouris 

 primiere qu obscure et rayee^ but I could never see another of the 

 species during my journey. As we were going to examine th6 

 blossoms of a low palm tree, we discovered, fixed to a little twig, 

 the little nest of the blue-headed humming-bird, a species 're- 

 sembling the trochilus bicolor, (saphir emeraude, Buff.) neatly co- 

 vered with moss. At night-fall, after having passed between some 

 lakes, where we saw many shining insects, and heard the croak- 

 ing of frogs, we arrived, after a long day's journey, at a veda, on 

 the lake of Sagoarema. Here we found our people with the lug- 

 gage, who had preceded us, on another road. Finding no provi- 

 sions here, we were obliged to send out some of our people, who, 

 after a long search during the whole night, returned with some 

 b ags (boroacas) of fresh fish, the only article of provisions they 

 could come at ; and so our intended supper became our breakfast. 



The lake of Sagoarema, which forms a junction with the sea, is 

 about six legoas long, and three quarters broad. The salt water, 

 though emitting, in some places, a very disagreeable smell, con- 

 tains great plenty and diversity of fish. Here is a dispersed ^;owa- 

 cao of fishermen, who live in small loam huts on the banks. 

 Every house has a hole dug in or near it, which serves for the 

 purposes of a cistern, the sea water being often putrid. The fish- 

 ermen here, like all the Brasilians, are lightly clothed ; they wear 

 large straw hats, large thin breeches, and shirts, and have their 

 necks uncovered and their feet bare ; every one has a stiletto in 

 his girdle, mounted with brass or silver. This last custom is pre- 

 valent among the Portuguese, but is a dangerous weapon, for it 

 is easily made instrumental to acts of bloodshed and murder 

 among men of a rough stern character, like the fishermen of Sa- 

 goarema. The vendtty which is on the sea-coast, belongs to these 

 people, who share its produce ; for this reason it is that travellers 

 must pay more here than at other places. About an hour"'s jour- 

 ney from this place lies the parish (freguesia ) of Sagoaremd, a 

 large village, or rather a small villa, with a church. As we were 

 obliged to convey our tropa over the lagoa, which from this place 

 empties itself into the sea, through a narrow channel, we took up 

 our quarters in an empty house, and employed our time in taking 

 a view of the surrounding country. 



A hill, on which are the church, the church-yard, and a tele- 

 graph, rises near the freguesiay from the sea-shore. This hill we 

 ascended as the sun was setting, and were highly entertained with 

 the prospect. Before us was the immense ocean, which, roaring 

 and foaming, rolled and broke against the hill ; to the right rose, 

 at a distance, the mountains of Rio ; nearer to us we contemplat- 

 ed the variously broken coast, and, still nearer, the Ponta Negra ; 

 behind us were woody mountains, with a low plain covered with 

 wood in front of them, and here and there the large resplendent 



