76 RIO DE JANEIRO. 
islands, scattered over its surface in every diversity of shape, 
and exhibiting every variety of tint that an exuberant and 
incessant vegetation is capable of affording — Let him con- 
ceive the shores of these islands to be so fringed with fragrant 
and beautiful shrubs, not planted by man but scattered by 
the easy and liberal hand of nature, as completely to be con- 
cealed in their verdant coverino- — Let him fioure to himself 
this beautiful sheet of water, with its numerous islands, to be 
encompassed on ever}^ side by hills of a moderate height, ris- 
ing in gradual succession above each other, all profusely clad 
in lively green, and crowned with groupes of the noblest trees, 
while their shores are indented with numberless inlets, shoot- 
ing tlieir arms across the most delightful vallies, to meet the 
murmuring rills, and bear their waters into the vast and com- 
mon reservoir of all — Li short, let him imagine to himself a 
succession of Mount Eagecombes to be continued along the 
shores of a magnificent lake, not less in circuit than a hundred 
miles ; and having placed these in a climate where spring for 
ever resides, in all the glow of youthful vigour, he will still 
possess only a very imperfect idea of the magnificent scenery 
displayed within the capacious harbour of Rio de Janeiro ; 
which, as an harbour, whether it be considered in the light 
of affording security and convenience for shipping, for its 
locality of position, or fertility of the adjacent country, may 
justly be ranked among the first of naval stations. 
If then the natural beauties of Rio de Janeiro are, in its 
present state, so very enchanting, how much more so must 
tliey have appeared at a time when this arm of the sea was a 
];ike of pure transparent water ? That such it once was, 
