Year: 1868

The regular monthly meeting OF the American Geo
graphical and Statistical Society was held last even
ing at Cooper Institute in the rooms OF the associa
ton. Professor Hartt OF Vassar College, Pough-
keepse, late geologist and naturalist OF the AgassS
expedition to Brazil delivered discourse on ssThe
Coast OF BRAZIL its Geography Geology and Natural
History"


Charles p. DAILY presided at the meeting.


The lecturer stated that he had accompanied Pro-
fessor Agassz on his first trip to Brazil He would
first speak OF the physical features OF this region
from Rio Janeiro to the mouth OF the Amazon. The
world was divided into three ages-azOic, or the


feess age; zoic or the age OF NE and eozoic or the
age Of the dawn OF life. He would give history OF
the growth OF the eastern coast OF Brazil Professor
Agessiz had first marked out the ancient outlines OF
South America me oldest paps sster ol inns sGo
forming Brazil being granite, gness and states.
These rocks had been upheared so as to form an ee-
vated land. The mountains were composed mostly
OF gness and OF a similar character 10 tnat which
formed this island. 1t formed In the eozoic age.
In the suran age the outline Of the continent was
passing inland, there was reached nrst .
states and other. rocks resembling ~, the gold,
bearing states Of Nova Scotia They were
rian age Here were some Of the most valuable gold
deposits About two hundred years ago an enter.
prisng people In this country discovered gold IN the
waters of the river Good Success its name implies
diamonds were found the search for which drew
away attention from the gold deposits This section
Of country was cut up with many deep valleys with
steep sides. Here quartz veins were found which
contained gold Over this were sheets OF gravel
which passed over the hills and valleys. Over this
also bed 0fred clay. The two latter resulted from
the grinding up these rocks by thebase OF glacier
In mining the clay and gravel were first broken up
and washed on the spot The nuggets OF gold
obtained here were sometimes nicely crystalline, the
others were mashed and ground. TN the !. former were
obtained from the quartz or rivers but the latter had
been exposed to glacial action. The glacial phen0m
ens Of @ o the e
action Of this sheet. In these clays and gravels
there was not the slightest trace to be found OF water
action. Rocks along the seac0ast were honeyc0mbed
with the holes Of sea urchins The reefs along the
coast OF Brazil extended like low, long, natural
breakwater at distance OF few hundred feet from
the shore. 1t looked as though there had been built
side, fiat on the top and running for many miles.
These could be traced along the shores far TO south
ward and far to nOrthward. Further south reef IN
process Of formation was found which showed its
drift. The storms had made ridge Of these, which
made the barrier shutting out the sea from the coast
The waves had beaten along this barrier lor an I'M
thrown up along the beach, and sometimes the sand
was composed Of broken shells. The rains soaking
into the sand had dissolved the lime OF the shells
and carried it down into the other parts OF the
beach. After q long while all the lower part
of the beach had become solid. Coral reefS
were formed plentfuly near the West Indies, Gulf
Of Mexico and in Florida: These had collected
formed. Coras were not the bones OF tnsects which
swim about in the sea- but were the skeletons OF
colony or family Of animals, starting from single
Individual which had budded or divided until they
formed q family Of many thousands or millions OF
individuals all of which had their bodies or skeletons
in the great mass. These animals grow ail over tne
bottom OF the sea in certain regions.


The lecturer here concluded and was given vote
Of thanks by the society.