NOTICES OF BRAZIL. 41 



air, and pinning the insects which he caught upon his hat. He 

 was a tall, raw-boned mulatto, under a broad brimmed hat, 

 stuck full of insects writhing an(i fluttering in the agonies of 

 death. His white cotton jacket might have been mistaken for 

 a pincushion, the sleeves and lapels were so full of pins. 

 Though barefooted, he was tidy. A bag, containing gauze, 

 thread, &c., for a net, to replace that on his pole, should it be 

 torn, was slung on one side, and on the other, a large, light 

 wooden box, to receive his game. At our request he showed 

 to us the result of his day's excursion, and appeared gratified 

 by our notice of him ; his box was half full of butterflies and 

 various insects. 



After parting with him, Brunner asked whether I thought 

 this man badly or inhumanely treated. 



You do not mean to say that this man is a slave?" 

 He is a slave, and belongs to a German, who gains a living 

 by making collections of birds, insects, shells, &c., which he 

 sells to travellers. He has several slaves whom he has taught 

 to prepare these specimens, and two or three others who hawk 

 them about the streets." 



When we arrived at the *'Casa da Agua," which is four 

 miles from the city, we determined to rest. The **Casa da 

 Agua" is a covered basin or receptacle for the water, which 

 rushes down the mountain in a narrow stream. A slab, set in 

 the wall, bears date 1744, the time of commencing the work, 

 and 1807, the period of its repair. 



Just above the " Casa da Agua" is a broad spreading rock, 

 in the surface of which, are several slight excavations, filled 

 with limpid water by tiny rills which wander from the main 

 stream. The rocks rise nearly perpendicular around this spot ; 

 the shade was perfect, and the air perfumed with sweet odours. 



While viewing the scene, and deliberating whether, in spite 

 of the lateness of the hour, we should continue our walk to the 

 observatory on the Corcovado, still a thousand feet above us, 

 and only to be reached by a long, circuitous, and laborious 

 path, a negro parted the bushes next the valley below, and 

 stood nearly naked before us. He removed a piece of a woollen 

 cap from his head, in token of respect, and saluted us with 

 6 



