36 TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. 
in blossom; and it was truly a magnificent sight to 
behold a great tree covered with one mass of flowers, 
and to hear the deep distant hum of millions of insects 
gathered together to enjoy the honeyed feast. But all 
is out of reach of the curious and admiring naturalist. 
It is only over the outside of the great dome of verdure 
exposed to the vertical rays of the sun, that flowers 
are produced, and on many of these trees there is not 
a single blossom to be found at a less height than a 
hundred feet. The whole glory of these forests could 
only be seen by sailing gently in a balloon over the un- 
dulating flowery surface above : such a treat is perhaps 
reserved for the traveller of a future age. 
A jararaca, said to be one of the most deadly serpents 
in Brazil, was killed by a Negro in our garden. It was 
small, and not brightly coloured. A fine coral snake was 
also brought in ; it was about a yard long, and beautifully 
marked with black, red, and yellow bands. Having per- 
haps had some experience of the lavish manner in which 
foreigners pay for such things, the man had the coolness 
to ask two milreis, or 4^. for it, so he had to throw it 
away, and got nothing. A penny or twopence is enough to 
give for such things, which are of no value to the natives ; 
and though they will not search much after them for such 
a price, yet they will bring you all that come in their 
way when they know you will purchase them. Snakes 
were unpleasantly abundant at this time. I nearly 
trod on one about ten feet long, which rather startled 
me, and it too, to judge by the rapid manner in which 
it glided away. I caught also a small Amjjhisbena under 
the coffee-trees in our garden. Though it is known to 
