The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-18
Correspondence Of the Journal of Commerce !
ruE AVN OH rrIIE DnI,rr "a nInnA-c

The grounds around the Cave of Camoens
embraces, as best | could judge, about ten acres,
which were once owned by the Portuguese East
India Company, and converted into arbors walks
and gardens. A high wall of stone inclosed the
whole, which vines and evergreens have climbed
and into which flowers have shot their roots till
from top to bottom they mantled with everast-
ing verdure and blossoms. Only small part at
end is level, while the rest rises in easy ascent
till it reaches the foot of the ridge running nearly
across the grounds, which is of stone covered
with little earth here and there, and quite rugged
and abrupt, much that it would be difficult
to climb it on side. Still large trees have con-
trved to live and flourish, throwing their strong
roots round mass of bouders, and then down into
the earth, while the trunk rested on the barren
rock thence shooting up its tall and graceful trunk,
from the top of which shot out branches in all di-
rections, clothed with unchanging verdure and
forming sort of regal canopy. At the same time
tendrs were seen clasping the trunk, and shooting
up the trunk, covering the whole from top to
bottom with festoons of leaves and flowers
Wide and handsome walks, made in sort of ce-
ment instead of gravel, run the garden from
side to side which intersected by three or four
others coming down from the top of the hill, where
flights of stone steps are constructed, one above
another, when the ascent becomes hard and lead
ing from terrace to terrace. Here and there are
large squares covered with luxuriant grass and
then other smaller squares and triangles cultivated
in eastern flowers. Solitary trees rise here and
there, while others are so closely grouped, that the
sun hardly pierces their shade. Scattered about
one mounted by tree. Some of the trees were
dressed out in gorgeous flowers, while innumerabe
shrubs and tall bushes are decked out in a more
delicate ii less ostentatous beauty. To add to the
charm of the scene, large number of BIRDS whose
names and notes had never heard, were flying
through the grounds, or perched in the trees
Several summer houses were erected at different
points, which bore the marks of former elegance
and Opulence, but long since had fallen into decay
walk on the upper side of the ridge, led to a
PERCEPTIONS side of the hill which, indeed is nearly
perpendicular, and solid mass of rock, some hund-
reds of feet below which is spread out the Chinese
portion of the town, containing 900 souls while
beyond is spacious bay covered with Chinese
junks and boats. Little walks and seats are con-
structed with ratings outside the edge of the cliff
and overlooking and Overhanging the frightful
abyss. which the head grows instantly dizzy in con-
templating-as though men had not been able to be
content with all this glory and beauty, but must
put their wits to work to create deformity and rush
upon destruction.
have before remarked that flights of stone stairs
lead from the grounds below, to one terrace
above another, till you reach the top of the HILL a
long ridge, at one end ofwhich is the famous Cave
the hill breaking off so suddenly, that it is just pos
sible to walk around the end without falling into
the abyss below. Properly speaking, it is no Cave
at ALL nor hardly the semblance of one. The ridge
terminates in mass of solid rock rising 90 feet
high, with face from top to bottom almost as
smooth as though hewn, and perpendicular Five
six feet beyond this face of the rock rises sim
gular independent stone, like a slab more than a
pillar, ten feet wide by three thick, facing the op
posite stone, and rising to the same elevation. By
singular freak of nature ifindeed it was not more
than freak, where everything looks likes art and
design immense fiat stone, nearly 10 feet square,
and thick, which rests one end upon the great
rock abutment, while the other just overlaps the
pillar, and is supported by t-just though it had
been erected for the very purpose, and at the same
time by the harmony Of the whole to contribute to
the architectural effect Art could hardly have
done more or better Thus within parallel walls 10
feet w feet hiph lei olO oh
feet in width and 10 feet long, which made the
Care Of Camoens. fight of stGne steps have been
constructed in the of the Cave to the stone roof
above, on which fine observatory has been erected
commanding of the most picturesque views
which can be conceived.
The Cave is protected by gate on each side,
which is kept locked, to prevent ingress and injury
from the hands of the profane while the oates he
ing of slat-work, and only three or four feet high
leave the visiter to see all there is within On
square block of granite rests the bust of the i'm
mortal poet, his head wreathed with laurel Four
sides of the granite block are sculptured with stan
zas from his Lusiad which |, who had read them 80
far away on the banks of the Connecticut, and so
long ago, with so much admiration, now copied in
the very cave where they were writtenl 1t seemed
like myth or magic, and threw all my ideas of time
and space, and personal ideality into bewilder-
ment.
Such wilderness of natural beauty, had never
seen in these old gardens of the Portuguese East
India Company. Nor was there natural beauty
only; there was certain melancholy air in the alb
sence of human forms moving about and enjoying
it, and in the absence of single hand to cultivate
the ground, and take care of the flowers and repair
what was falling into decay.
1t may satisfy your readers, some at least, if
copy part of the inscription on the monument in
the original, the whole of which consists simply in
the poets and the date of his birth and death,
and six stanzas from the Lusiad sculptured ON the
four sides of the granite block supporting the
poets bust
He entreats King Sebastian ''never to suffer the
admiring Germans, the French, the Italians, and
the English, to be able to say that the Portuguese
ed" The French are here, the English are here,
and China and the East PROSTATE at their feet;
and Americans are here with merchant ships and
merchant princes inferior only to the English,