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Book II Chapter 2 Excursions in the environs of Rio de Janeiro
View from Corcovado mountain, Rio de Janeiro We withstood the temptations of the beautiful natural scenery, which displayed itself before our windows, in all the splendour of the south, only till we had provided for the most urgent wants of our domestic arrangements. It was particularly the neighboring mountains, clothed with thick verdure, that attracted us, and thither we accordingly undertook our first excursion.
Marshy land with mangrove trees The way led still within
the suburbs over that marshy level, which at new
and full moon is covered
by the high tide of Guanabara bay, and receives,
page 207 Wherever the seawater had covered the ground, we found it pierced with innumerable holes, which serve as a retreat to the edible land-crab (Cancer Uca, L.). On the sandy bank we observed, not only certain strand plants common to the tropical countries of both continents, such as Avicennia tomentosa and Rhizophora mangle, but also two others, natives of higher altitudes, namely, Portulaca pilosa, which is found on the coasts of Asia Minor, and Pharnaceum Cerviana, which is found on the Baltic sea.
Street scene near Sao Cristavao We traversed the principal street which leads through the quarter of Mato-Porcos to the royal residences, S. Cristovao and Santa Cruz; and passing a
handsome country-seat, belonging to the bishop,
we ascended the first hills of the Corcovado mountain. Scarcely were we beyond the streets and the noise of the town,
when we stopped, as if enchanted, in the midst of a strange and luxuriant
vegetation. Our eyes were attracted,
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