II 
APPEARANCE OF THE FORESTS 
2 5 
piece had been cleared, yet almost every acre was capable of 
yielding all the various rich productions of a tropical land. 
Considering the enormous area of Brazil, the proportion of 
cultivated ground can scarcely be considered as anything com¬ 
pared to that which is left in the state of nature : at some 
future age, how vast a population it will support ! During the 
second day’s journey we found the road so shut up that it was 
necessary that a man should go ahead with a sword to cut 
away the creepers. The forest abounded with beautiful objects ; 
among which the tree ferns, though not large, were, from their 
bright green foliage, and the elegant curvature of their fronds, 
most worthy of admiration. In the evening it rained very 
heavily, and although the thermometer stood at 65°, I felt very 
cold. As soon as the rain ceased, it was curious to observe the 
extraordinary evaporation which commenced over the whole 
extent of the forest. At the height of a hundred feet the hills 
were buried in a dense white vapour, which rose like columns 
of smoke from the most thickly-wooded parts, and especially from 
the valleys. I observed this phenomenon on several occasions : 
I suppose it is owing to the large surface of foliage, previously 
heated by the sun’s rays. 
While staying at this estate, I was very nearly being an eye¬ 
witness to one of those atrocious acts which can only take place 
in a slave country. Owing to a quarrel and a lawsuit, the 
owner was on the point of taking all the women and children 
from the male slaves, and selling them separately at the public 
auction at Rio. Interest, and not any feeling of compassion, 
prevented this act. Indeed, I do not believe the inhumanity of 
separating thirty families, who had lived together for many years, 
even occurred to the owner. Yet I will pledge myself, that in 
humanity and good feeling he was superior to the common run 
of men. It may be said there exists no limit to the blindness of 
interest and selfish habit. I may mention one very trifling anec¬ 
dote, which at the time struck me more forcibly than any story 
of cruelty. I was crossing a ferry with a negro who was un¬ 
commonly stupid. In endeavouring to make him understand, I 
talked loud, and made signs, in doing which I passed my hand 
near his face. He, I suppose, thought I was in a passion, 
and was going to strike him ; for instantly, with a frightened 
look and half-shut eyes, he dropped his hands. I shall never 
