#32 Valley of the Orange
Trees in the direction of Catete near Sebastianopolis, the city of Rio
de Janeiro.
Latin
translation by Ben Hennelly
There are five hills which, in different stretches, pass between the
districts of homes in the city of Rio de Janeiro, which has
its name from St. Sebastian; and so, because the view is blocked, the
city can be seen in its entirety from no direction. This same winding
ridge of mountains extends beyond the city as far as the immense forests
of Corcovado Mountain, the outermost boundary set in the splendid image of the imperial
city, and incomparable with respect to its physical beauty. Among the
very lovely valleys to the city's south is the valley of Laranjeiras,
at the bottom of which flows a river that passes out into the bay of Botafogo. Etching
#32 depicts part of that valley: we wanted the appearance of the plant
life that is disseminated throughout the gardens there to be illustrated
here for the viewer.
It is beyond doubt that at the time America was discovered those hills
were wrapped everywhere with thick, ancient forest, just as the more
remote mountain slopes; but that forest yielded to the steel of the
settlers and was gradually cut away, and only on the hills' peaks has
new growth -- called Capoeira -- risen in its place.
The trees discerned here and there beside the hills and in the valleys
are: from the magnificent palms, Acrocomia
sclerocarpa, crowned with its dense, curled foliage, and the
more slender, ringed Syagrus
Mikaniana; from the fruit-bearers, the shady Mangifera
indica, with its dark bark and pointed, oblong, leathery leaves
(it is the first tree from the right), Musa, Crescentia Cujete, Spondias, Psidium, Araca, and Guajava to the inhabitants, Jambosa
vulgaris (Jambo to the Brazilians), Eugenia
brasiliensis (Grumixameira), and Eugenia
cauliflora (Jabuticabeira). Some of these trees are
imported and some autochthonous,
but they are improved by cultivation and hold the eyes of those traveling
through these fertile regions, which nature's benevolence adorns uninterruptedly
in a happy competition with the industry of the cultivators.
#32 of 42 expedition commentaries
