182 
PHYSICAL HISTORY OF THE 
of this mountain is so abrupt, its rise from 
the plain so bold and sudden, that it seems 
more than twice its real height. Judging by 
the eye, and comparing it with the mountains 
I had last seen, — the Corcovado, the Gavia 
and Tijuca range in the neighborhood of 
Rio, — I had supposed it to be three or four 
thousand feet high, and was greatly astonished 
when our barometric observations showed it 
to be somewhat less than nine hundred feet in 
its most elevated point. This, however, agrees 
with Martius’s measurement of the Almeirim 
hills, which he says are eight hundred feet in 
height. 
Major Coutinho and I reached the serra by 
different roads ; he crossing the Campos on 
horseback with Captain Faria, the commander 
of our steamer and one or two other friends 
from Monte Alegre who joined our party, 
while I went by canoe. The canoe journey is 
somewhat longer. A two-liours’ ride across 
the Campos brings you to the foot of the 
mountain, whereas the trip by boat takes more 
than twice that time. But I preferred going 
by water, as it gave me an opportunity of see¬ 
ing the vast variety of animals haunting the 
