«4 RIO DE JANEIRO, 
on which the cochinille insect feeds, and for the reception of 
curious or useful native plants ; but we found it greatly ne- 
glected, and the collection very limited, containing but few 
native plants which have not already been cultivated in the 
hot-houses of England. The superintendant had not the least 
knowledge of botany. The common fruits of the country 
were sufficiently abundant, and to these were added a few 
other plants among which, as I find by my notes, were 
different species of Yucca, Agave, Euphorbia, and Cactus ; 
the Laurus Persea, a Mimosa, a species of Cassia, and the 
Theobroma Cacao or chocolate tree ; the Jatropha Curcas or 
physic nut, and the Hicinus Talma Christi ; the common 
pepper, a species of Capsicum or Cayenne pepper, and a 
species of Fhysalis or winter cherry. Several very fine passion 
flowers and dilFerent species of convolvulus were among the 
creeping plants. The Queen of Portugal had sent out a col- 
lector of birds and insects ; but he possessed only a very 
limited knoAvledge of natural history, being a mere setter-up^ 
In this branch, however, he was tolerably perfect, and had 
procured a number of ver}" beautiful and brilliant specimens. 
Many of the houses in St. Sebastian are far from being 
contemptible ; they are mostly two stories high, covered with 
tiles, and have wooden balconies extending in front of the 
upper stories ; but the best of them wear that dull and 
gloomy appearance, which all buildings must necessarily have 
whose latticed windows supply the w^ant of glass. The streets 
are in general tolerably straight, some of considerable width, 
though mostly narrow. The principal ones are paved on both 
sides with broad flag stones of granite. The refinement of a 
7 
