II 
DEPARTURE FROM SOCEGO 
27 
of their sensitive petioles. It is easy to specify the individual 
objects of admiration in these grand scenes ; but 
it is not possible to give an adequate idea of 
the higher feelings of wonder, astonishment, and 
devotion, which fill and elevate the mind. 
April 19 th .—-Leaving Socego, during the two 
first days we retraced our steps. It was very 
wearisome work, as the road generally ran across 
a glaring hot sandy plain, not far from the coast. 
1 noticed that each time the horse put its foot on 
the fine siliceous sand, a gentle chirping noise 
was produced. On the third day we took 
a different line, and passed through the gay 
little village of Madre de Deos. This is 
one of the principal lines of road in Brazil ; 
yet it was in so bad a state that no wheel 
vehicle, excepting the clumsy bullock- 
waggon, could pass along. In our whole 
journey we did not cross a single bridge 
built of stone ; and those made of logs of 
wood were frequently so much out of 
repair that it was necessary to 
one side to avoid them. P 
tances are inaccurately known 
road is often marked by cro 
the place of milestones, to 
where human 
blood has been 
spilled. On the 
evening of the 
2 3rd we arrived 
at Rio, having 
finished our 
pleasant little 
excursion. 
During the 
remainder of my 
stay at Rio, I resided in a cottage at Botofogo Bay. It was 
impossible to wish for anything more delightful than thus to 
MANDIOCA OR CASSAVA. 
