Remember the Rainforest tm

Home

Expedition Index

Expedition Text

Expedition Etchings

Etching locations

Maps

Plants

Animals

People and Scenes

Eco-petitions and project proposals

Lesson plans

Statistics

Authors and Artists

Contact us

page 254 ---Belmonte---horticulture---Piabanha river---

The animal kingdom, too, sleep here more soundly and longer than in more northern latitudes; and even the plants, by closing and drooping their leaves, announce, more than among us, a suspension of the animation awakened by the sun.

Belmonte, province of Rio de Janeiro

From Corrego Seco we followed the road through the high broken country, partly bounded by many granite mountains, passed Belmonte, and at last reached the country seat of Padre Correa, with whom we had become acquainted when he passed through Mandiocca. This worthy ecclesiastic, a native of Brazil, is a model for his neighbors, by his activity as a farmer. He has proved by planting extensive nurseries, that the colder climate of these more elevated districts is favorable to the culture of European fruits. In his plantations, figs, peaches, and grapes in particular, ripen to perfection, and in such abundance, that he supplies the market at Rio, and annually gains large sums by the sale. This enterprising man has established another profitable branch of industry by the skill of his slaves, whom he treats with great humanity, and who manufacture large quantities of Swedish iron into horse shoes, and other articles for sale. We here met for the second time with the mountain rivulet of Piabanha, which, though pretty considerable, is not navigable, on account of its rocky bed, to its junction with the river Paraiba, which has its source far off in the province of S. Paulo.


page 255 ---customhouse---gold smuggling---

Passing over hills of gneiss and granite, which were covered with a layer of red clay, we arrived in the evening at Soumidouro, a small village with a few houses, situated in the middle of the wood, at the source of a mountain stream. We were hospitably received, and informed that we had still half a day's journey from this place to the military post (destacamento) of Paraiba; where all caravans coming from Minas Gerais, and the passports of all traveling strangers who are going into the interior of that gold district, are most strictly examined on account of the smuggling trade carried on in gold dust.

Military post and customshouse

To avoid this search, we advanced into the forests, which are here so unfrequented and gloomy, no farther than to a solitary fazenda, which lies a small distance from the river Paraiba. After we had partaken of some refreshment, and obtained all the information that was desirable, both from the host, and from some of the mulattoes belonging to the custom house on the Paraiba, who were patrolling the neighborhood, armed with swords and muskets, we prepared to return by way of Soumidouro, to the country-house of Mr. von Langsdorff.

Mandiocca, fazenda of von Langsdorff

During our stay at Mandiocca, our kind host was visited by his neighbors, who regarded with surprise, and not without jealousy, the rapid progress of his establishment. As the first attempt to turn up, with a European plow, the spots which had been cleared by burning the wood, had failed, through the inexperience of the slaves and for want of oxen trained to the work, this gave them sufficient ground to prove the unfitness of employing European agriculture on the Brazilian soil.