are
aware of. In those parts within the tropics where humidity prevails,
they are neither so varied in species, nor so abundant in individuals,
as in drier districts. While residing at Pernambuco, I remember taking
notice of all the species I met with in the course of a single day, and
they amounted to about twenty-five.
Before
ascending the hill we visited the falls of Tijuca, which are only at a
short distance from the road. The crystal water of a large rivulet
falls over two successive gently inclined masses of rock, upwards of
one hundred feet high. It rather glides in a broad broken sheet than
falls, and is received in a large pool below. This cascade reminded me
of those which are so often to be met with in the wooded glens of
Scotland. By dusk, after gradually ascending the mountains, we reached
the house; it is situated in an old coffee plantation, belonging to a
Brazilian nobleman, but it was then rented by a party of young English
merchants in Bio, who used it as a holiday resort, and, by the kindness
of one of them, we were allowed to remain at it for a few days.
Early
on the following morning we made an excursion to a mountain called the
Pedra Bonita, immediately opposite the Gavea. In our way thither we
visited the coffee plantations of Mrs. Moke, and Mr. Lescene. They
adjoin each other, and were then considered the best managed near Rio.
The great coffee country is much further inland, on the banks of the
Rio Parahiba. The trees are planted from six to eight feet apart. Those
plants which have been taken from the nursery with balls of mould round
their root are found to bear fruit in about two years, whereas those
which have been detached from the earth do not produce till the third
year, and a greater proportion of the plants die. They are planted when
about a foot high, on the slopes of the hills, in the alluvial soil
from whence the virgin forest has been cleared. They are only allowed
to grow to the height of from ten to twelve feet, so that the crop may
lie within reach. Till the trees are in full bearing, one negro can
take charge of, and keep clean, two thousand plants : but afterwards
only half that number is allotted him. Large healthy coffee trees have
been found to produce as much as from eight to twelve pounds of coffee;
the average produce,
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