New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-23
NEW PUBLIC ATI0NS.
NAGASSIZS JOURNEY IN Brazil.

interior OF Brazil was the fulflment OF lOngcner-
ished wish TO study the animal kingdom OF that
country on the spot and complete the researches 10
which he had previously devoted good deal OF at
tention Every facility for the accomplishment OF
ms purpose was afforded by the Emperor, who had
already expires, ed warm sympathy with the scien-
tifc labors of Professor Agassz and the munfcence
OF nrivate citizen of Boston enabled him TO organ
ize the expedition scale commensurate with us
importance The party sailed from New-lork III the
steamer Colorado in which passage had been ten
derel to the whole expedition by the Paclhc MAI
Company in the month of April, 1859, returning III
July Of the following year. In preparing the Noi'
the principal materials have been drawn nom 'n0
journal Of Mrs AgasSz, who minutely reccioeu 'o
events and impressions of the day emoo"Nihs "o
results Of her husbands scientific opseIV't.opS ~
far as was necessary 10 explain to the puohc tue AIMS
o,a perforrauees of the Expedition Professor
Agassiz purposes in future work 20 give more lil
account of the fauna, and especially the fishes OF
Brazil but this viii occupy several years OF labor
and can only be published very gradually
The present volume possesses a high degree OF
interest in the richness of its details concerning the
manners aud customs social life, and natural scenery
of Brazil It's animated, ard often picturesque nara
tive aud the graceful freedom and simplicity OF ITS
STYLE 1t was not until near the end OF Apll' that
the party arrived at Rio dc Janeiro, and being In no
haste 10 land obtained their first glimpses OF the cly
from the deck of the vessel III which they had made
a sngularly delightful voyage.
Asngt came on sunset lit up the mountains and the
harbor In this latitude however, the glory OF inc I"-
light aud as darkness ieI upon me ci! ~
began glitter with innRmerabe lights along inc snoe
aud on the hHsdes The city Of Rio de Janelro spfeads
iu kind Of crescent shape around the western sue o te
hay its cuvirons stretching out 10 conslderaDe distance
along the beaches. and running up on TO the mis- Deh
ALSO on account of this disposition OF the houses cover
ing wide and scattered upon the water cue i
stead Of being compact and concentrated me appearance
the city night is exceedingly pretty IL mas he
81 eject The lights run up on me hnSiQpGs 5
browning their SUBMITS here ana dnerf anu
they glinmer all along the shore for two or tee mics Oh
either side OF the central business part Vi 'no '"
Soon after landing at Rio de JaneirO. the party
were invited to 90 20 the terminus of new railroad
se,ne hundred miles in the interior, thus obtaining
their first view of the wonders of South American
vegetation which is graphically described ia the fol
lowing paragraph.
Peras in all our ourneyings through Brazil shall
not have day impressive 10 us all IMAM Lis one
we shall no doubt, wilder scenery, but the htst Time
that looks upon nature under an entirely new aspect
of high mountains the first glimpse OF the brOad 0eea
The first sight CT tropical vegetation IN al lts Iuess,
ARE euocs In ones life This wonderful South American
forest matted together ndntertwined with egant
parasites that it seems more like solid compact mass VI
green than ike the leafy vibrating WIN every
breeze and transparent to the sun when represents te
forest temperate Mabyo the trees IN the region
we passed through today seemed IN the embrace OF I'M
cse scrpents large the stems OF te parisltes
Winding about them: orchids OF various kinds and large
SIZE grew unon their trunks and vines climbed to Their
submits and threw themselves down IN gaflahds 10 inc
ground. ON the .embankments also between Which We
passed vines of many varieties creeping down as if
they would fain elohe in green garments the ugly gaps
the railroad had made Yet 10 must be confessed tat III
this instance, the raroad has not DESTROYED but rather
heightened, the picturesque scenery e4tg as ~ H
through passes which give beautiful vistas INTO the heart
of the mountain range Once. as we issued from
nis scaUe All cleaning in the sunshine general
shout from the whole party testified their asohlShmeht
and admiration
The following agreeable bit of natural history VIII
he read with interest for the curious process of insect
architecture which texpains well as rthe light
IT throws on the much Yaunted mathematics OF the
bee" in the construction of its cell.
For some time Mr. Agassz has been trying TO get living
specimens the insect injurious to the coce-tree the
VINEYARDS i'm Europe Yesterday lie succeeded in obtain
ing some aud among them just spinning his cocoon
the s a WEE MS S tent He had the threads
upward IN the center & n ,e va1 seemed
10 lie completed at the moment we saw nun ana nc was
drawing threads forward and fastening them at short
tsce 5eyond thus flashing his house tho leaf it
We're The eNauisite accuracy o. the work was amazing
every new stitch turned his body backward attached
hi thread TO tue same spot then drew u forward anu
and rapidly that machinery could hardly initiate IL Is
curious question how far this perfection OF workmanship
I'm many of the lower animals is simply identical with
their organization, and therefore TO he considered Ihe
ton rs inevitable in its action as digestion orrcspratOn
,ntber than an instinct In this the body Of the little
annual was his it was amazing To see MN lay
down his threads with such accuracy. I'LL remembered
THAT he could not uake them longer slDrter for start
ing from the center house and stretching his body
its fun length they must always reach tue same point
The same Is true u the socaed mathematics OF the bee
The bees stand close as they can together IN their hive
for economy of space ana each one aeoslts ms Wax
around him. his form and size being the mold Tor
the cells the regularity of which when completed exctes
90 much wonder and admiration. The mathematical
Of the bee is To he found IN his structure not IN ms
instinct I'm the industrial work OF some OF the lower
animals the ant for instance there il power OF adapa
ton which is not susceptible OF the same explanation
Their social organization, too Intelligent, 1t seems
20 be the work OF any reasoning powers of their
own yet does not appear 10 be directly connected with
breath stirred the leaf and nc instantly contracted him
sell and drew back under his roofs but presently came
out again and returned to his work.
While travelling on the banks Of the Amazon, the
party were for short time domesticated in the lodge
of a native Indian of whose housekeeping and do
nestle habits we have lively account.
As time goes on grow moro at home with our rustic
friends here and begin to understand their relations 10
the it sounds aud that OF his wife Esperanea
fisherman and with the exception Of such little care
his small plantation requires, TINS is ms Ohy OcSupatOn
Io,e mot.even to bring wood lift the heavy
burdens and the fishing is done chiefly at certain sea
sors. he very idle fellow Tor great part or the time
Women are said the contrary 10 be very Industrious
aud certainly those we have au opportunity Of seeing
Justify this reputation Espetca is always busy AT
some household work or Othergr2uns mandOca, drying
i,rnha, packing tobacco cooking or s s%eepng Ler
children active and oDcdent the Older ones MAKING
themselves useful III bringing wat@ IRON the lake Ih
Washing the ulandiOca, in taking Of the younger
Espcnng2 can hardly nc eaIeG Pfe'y, Dut se mas
pleasant smile aud remarkably sweet voice. with
kind Oi chd IKE MlGI sci1 " , hn
white ch, mise failing loose from het brown shoulders
her dark skirt and sprig Of white jessanine III
her lefty hair she "a by means unattractvc in her per
eoual appearance though must confess that the pipe
which She apt 10 smoke In the evening Injuries the
general effect Her husband looks somewhat somber;
hit hearty laugh occasionally, and his enjoyment OF
glass Of cachaca which rewards MN when he brings IN
new lot OF specimens shows that he has bis bright side
lie is greatly amused at the value Mr. Agassz attaches
20 the fishes especially the little ones. which appear 70
him only fit throw away. Ii seems thai tile other
family Who have been about here since our arrival are
neghBors who have come IN TO help IN the making 1I
,nandioca They come in the morning with all their
children and remain through the day The names OF the