Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-11

the Corcoysdo by dark This sad disappointment
We had walked about miles, and the entire distance
to the peak Of Corcovado from the city only eight
Senior Jose four acquainance gave as directions
how to reach the city by new route As matter Of
course we misunderstood him and lost way To add
to our embarrassment could not well turn back with
out running the risk Of being obliged to spend the night
in the mountains, which not cheering prospect
among people whose language did not understand,
and who were themselves apprehensive Of the bandit
said to infest the mountain Nothing remained
for but strike out directly for the foot of the
tain. The descent precpitous and dangerous. In
places had to jump and slide down, and occa-
sonay when We came to very steep place to scramble
the rocks by holding TO the roots and shrubs
was almost miracle that we were not dashed pieces
in the tremendous precipices below.
The paths by which made our perious descent
ed to have been in the rocks by goats mountain
sheep for could not conceive how human beings could
make practice of descending in that way The further
down scrambled the less prospect there appeared to be
of coming to the bottom. began to think Of Mil
tons deeper deep which in the deepest deep still threat
ened devour" Tangled shrubs with hard thorny BRAN
bes tore clothes and rocky dykes yawned before
every dozen steps At last breathless with exertion,
and reeking with perspraton came to halt and
looked around Surely thought ], we must be near
the foot of the mountain But peeping through
mass Of overhangng trees, sweeping valley dotted
with villas still hundreds Of feet below This cheering
sight inspired with fresh vgor We bounded merrily
down the pathway, tearing our way through bush and
brake and in about half hour struck into larger path
marked by human footprints Awel-defned road cross
ed the path which pursuing branching off in
another direction There gateway across it near
the point where they nerseced which induced us to be-
ieve that it private leading into
aptic IF
Brazians to strangers, we had such repugnance to
spending the night these wild ravnes that we finally
decided upon taking the road 1t led by gradual and
easy descent into the head of populous valley called the
Val Lorengeras, the sVale of Oranges" perfect
miniature paradise On emerging from the bushes and
woods the whole panorama Of Villas reaching clear down
TO the city of San Sebastian lay before like dream of
beauty realized Fountains sparked in the rays of the
setting flowers bloomed every side; grassy slopes
swept down from the cliffs; every habtabe emnence
was picturesque villa surrounded by dense green shrub
berry, white walls immense gateways pedestals and
tuary ripping stream wound through these stios ir-
rgatng EACH and furnishing inexhaustbe supply of
pure water for the fountains At intervals where it
ed the road white stone bridges ornamented with
satuary and carved PIERS and overhung by large Bahia
trees AS entered the village at the head Of LOrenge
heard the hum of voices and the nke of guitars
and children played under the shade of the Slave.
passed from the fountains bearing their heads earthen
pitchers filed with We stopped Venda where
we procured refreshments and learned that an om
nibus would leave for the city at six o'clock but as the
distance was only four miles, preferred walking The
farther we proceeded the enchanting seemed the
surrounding country Of all the delightful places of re-
sort Rio think this Vale Of Oranges the most re-
tired and romantic 1t is here that the merchant after
the tolls of the day. finds quiet retreat his secluded
villa English is evident at every point for do not
think the Brazans have much innate love of the beaut
full in nature. They lavish of their money however
either from pride superabundance of wealth and
spend immense sums in the adornment of their country
seats Every American vser Rio has seen or heard of
Mr. MaxwePs villa, and knows the sumptuous style in
which ne lives noticed many villas in the progress
Of erecton for, although the city itself indicates gradual
decay the spirit of improvement prevails in the enyirons
We passed some very neat chapels way down to
the city, and occasionally reared
Grated spot showing the devotion of the inhabitants to
the established religion Of the country
With all this beauty Of scenery and briancy Of archi-
tectural display could avoid contrasting the solid
comforts of home with what see here. The Brazilans
destitute Of those social habits that give such charm
to homes Reserved and naughty in their inter-
among each other they have fresdes draw
them together refined intellectual enoyments to ex
pand their minds and their hearts The perpetual
restraint Of pride regns among all the better classes
And what of their gorgeous villas and Oriental scenery
their tropical fruits and brilliant owers They have no
Indian summer Christmas feasts no spring no per-
csptibe change Of incident or of scene Monotony and
incidence go together Rio is perpetual wilderness of
yerdure Never did eaess woods and snow-covered
plains dear they did in the midst of this
uxurant valley thought too, Of our delightful May
festivals when the genial breath of Spring stealing
upon when the violet and the primrose and the early
woodbine send their perfume the breeze charm
from our winter haunts thought Of our healthy bloom
ing summers and noble forest trees sunted or gnar
ed by scorching the gores of our auumns when
after natural life, the and yellow leaf Of our
forests reminds that all things must perish thought
Of the mellow nts Of hills and valleys in the fall of
the year. when need The bracing air Of approaching
winter TO renew our energies again enter into the
struggle Of fe But above all felt the absence of that
flow Of soul which soothes and endears to us all
that is pure and beautiful Social intercourse is not
mere luxury Time and travel have made it to me ne
cessy Its the connecting link that binds the wanderer
to the home Of his heart that enables him to hold con-
with those be loves when mountains seas and de-
lie between The very thought of the domestic fire.
side soohes him in his trouble cheers him in his solitude
bids him hope in the hour Of dependency, his
better feelings when the hardshps Of the world check the
fountains OF sympathy II reminds him that 10 err is
human, to forgive divine" familiar, kindly tone; a
pleasant SMILE how wildly they bring up the past with
all its pleasures, its loves hopes and joys Here amid
these beauties Of the external world the SOUL the