20 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



mit. The offer was accepted, and the young son of the Ocean, 

 properly equipped, started on his expedition. At the base of 

 the rock, the water rises and falls alternately three or four feet 

 as the waves roll past into the harbor, so that several attempts 

 were made, before he succeeded in landing. He then toiled up 

 the embrowned side of the rock, hoisting himself by a bush or 

 by some inequality of the surface, till he reached the top, where 

 he displayed his banner, and to the terror of the inhabitants of 

 Rio, lighted a fire ; for every one who was not aware of the 

 enterprise, thought that the Pao-de-Agucar had suddenly be- 

 come a volcano. After remaining all night under the dreadful 

 apprehension, as he said, of being eaten by venomous serpents 

 that hissed round the fire, or of rolling down the shot tower 

 like mountain into the sea, if he should be overcome by sleep, 

 he safely descended, and obtained the wager. In spite of its 

 difficulties, the same feat was afterwards achieved by an Ame- 

 rican midshipman, who left ^^the stripes and stars" waving 

 over the land while the bunting endured, for no Brazilian 

 would venture to haul it down. The repetition of the enter- 

 prise is now forbidden by an imperial decree. 



Close in the rear, the mountains are broken by deep ravines 

 and splintered into peaks, one of which, called the Corcovado, 

 out tops and overhangs the rest. Upon its very summit, like 

 an eyry perched among the clouds, is an observatory and a 

 watch tower which may be seen at a great distance, when not 

 hidden in the vapors that frequently shroud it.* 



Between San Berndrdo and Gl&ria points extends a long 

 beach, which, from having been the resort, in times past, of 

 the gorgeously plumed flamingo, is now called " Praya do Fla- 

 mingo." On G16ria point is placed, very conspicuously, a small 

 white church, dedicated to the invocation of '^Nossa Senhora 

 de G16ria." The edifice is octahedral, and has a tall slender 

 spire at one side. The hill on which it stands is one of the 

 most picturesque spots about Rio. The terrace surrounding 

 the church, which is about one hundred feet above the level of 



* According to the measurement of Captain Beechey, R. N. made after the 

 formula of Mr. Daniel, the base of the flag staff is by one observation 2308 

 feet, and by a second 2306 feet above the level of the sea. 



