|
#24 The forest on Monte
Corcovado, near Sebastianopolis,
in the province of Rio
de Janeiro.
Latin translation by
Ben Hennelly
Etching #24 is copied from a picture by Thomas Ender, my friend and
the companion of my journey: it presents part of the dense forest that
covers the upper part of Monte
Corcovado. It was chosen to be viewed by the reader's kind
eyes especially because it displays that dark shade which the thriving
tree growth there with its full foliage spreads over the ground. For
large trees with long branches stretching their foliage out, interweave
themselves above so tightly into a richly green portico, so to speak,
that often even the openings for the sun are for the most part closed
off, and light does not penetrate through to the lower parts of the
always green grove unless the uppermost tree branches are shaken apart
by the force of the winds. For this reason, throughout the greater part
of the year, you see in these magnificent vaults of foliage only broken
light, such as especially many pseudo-parasites, Orchideae, Aroideae and Bromeliaceae love, frequently growing on aging trunks.
The heat of the air here is generally throughout the whole year a few
degrees lower than in the lower regions near the bay of Sebastianopolis.
While there in lower places more open to the sun, the thermometer indicates
during the day between 18° and 21° Centigrade in the cooler,
and between 23° and 26° C. in the warmer months, and in that
more elevated, shadowy recess of the forests it shows between 15°
and 18° C., and 20° and 23° C. (1), and indeed it drops still more, so that one who has come to
this place from the sun-burned shore is refreshed by a kind and pleasant
cool.
 
|
