The west wind, passing over vast marshy forests, is frequently found to be unhealthy in the interior parts, while the excessive heat which follows the course of the sun, fills the atmosphere with igneous particles, which produce occasionally fatal conse quences. But those unhealthy blasts are corrected by the influence of the aromatic plants which abound in the woods, and which fill the air with their fragrance, so that it can be plainly perceived at seve ral leagues from the shore, when the wind blows in that direction.
From the month of March to August, the rainy season prevails upon the coast. During the rest of the year, there is almost constant drought,.the wind blowing from the north, with little interruption. Under the influence of these dry and parching blaits, vegetation languishes, and all the higher and more exposed parts appear to be burnt up and withered. The sea breeze, which ushers in the rainy season, refreshes the atmosphere and reanimates vegeta tion.
The interior of Brasil consists in many parts of ene continued forest, in which the trees are covered with brushwood and twigs, twining round them even to their summits, after which they frequently make their way again to the earth, where they take root, and, mounting anew, they grow from one tree to another, until the whole forest is laced together by this vegetable cordage, and rendered completely im practicable. It sometimes grows to the thickness of a man's leg, and is so closely interwoven that nei ther animals nor birds can pass across it. When young, these twigs are flexible, and frequently serve for ordinary purposes instead of cords. Mr Mawe mentions that he had often seen negroes convert them into bridles, and ride with them for days together. In some species of this underwood, if an incision is made, a considerable quantity of cool and excellent water is procured. The shrubs which yield this precious resource are found in marshy countries, or in sandy plains, where, without this assistance, the traveller would die of thirst. The wild recesses of those impenetrable forests are inhabited by great numbers of apes, which multiply undisturbed in these inaccessible abodes.
At a little distance from the coast, the country is covered with numerous varieties of the palm-tree, among which we meet with that celebrated species, whose long, serrated, lancet-formed leaves are com posed of innumerable fibres, which rival silk both in fineness and strength. These are frequently used for fishing-lines. Here also is to be found the Bra silian cocoa tree, which is thicker and more elevated than that of the Indies,—also the tree called the pekia, which bears a fruit large and hard, something similar both in shape and size to a common ball, so that it is dangerous to be near it when the fruit falls to the ground,—and the Brasilian myrtle, distin guished by the shining of its silver bark. No coun
try in the world furnishes so many precious woods for dyeing, for cabinet work, or for ship-building. The cedar, the wild cinnamon tree, and the rose wood trees, are improved by being worked, and re sist for a long time the action both of the water and of the air. There is, besides, an immense variety of other species of trees, adapted for every purpose, either of utility or ornament ; and it is in Brasil, also, that those gigantic trees are to be found which rise to the height of 80 feet, and which are so well adapted by their size for the construction of the largest ships.
The woods of Brasil are full of rapacious animals, such as the tiger-cat, the hyena, the saratu, which is the size of a fox, but much more ferocious and brave. The jaguar, from its strength and fero city, the tetror of the Brasilian peasantry, is fre quently met with ; also the porcupine, which, when it is irritated, darts its quills with such force as to occasion serious wounds. This animal must not be confounded with the armadillo, or with the common porcupine, which rolls itself up like the hedge-hog, and presents to its pursuers an impenetrable coat of maiL The farmers in Brasil are much infested by ounces, which are of various colours, some black and brown red, and are exceedingly ravenous and fero cious. This animal is hunted with dogs, and when it is run down, a contest ensues, which is seldom termi nated without the loss of some of the dogs. Wild hogs are common, and all sorts of monkeys ; some of which, when asleep, snore so loud as to astonish the traveller. The tapir is the largest quadruped found in the country ; in its form it resembles a bog, but is nearly the size of a calf. The most formidable rep tiles are the corral-inake, the sorrocuco, and the jarraraca, all of them venomous, and generally dreaded by the inhabitants. The corral-snake is be tween two and three feet in length, and about two inches in circumference, with a pointed tail and white belly ; the head is covered with white cubical scales, edged with black, and the back is adorned with red, black, and white spots, in alternate order. In the marshy countries of the south is found the boa-serpent, which grows to the length of SO feet, and in thickness equals the body of a man. As some sort of compensation for the production of these monstrous reptiles, the forests of Brasil abound in an infinite variety of the most beautiful birds, which are distinguished not more by the brilliancy of their plumage than by the melody of their notes.