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amphitheatre of mountains covered with eternal verdure and overlooking the Atlantic coast. At the first light of morning the forest awakes, shakes its moist crown of foliage, and displays its undulating lines upon the horizon, where they resemble so many clouds floating upon a fluid lake of gold. Marvellous harmonies prevail between the sky, the earth, and the sea, The sea sends back to the hills its bluish hue, and the waters reproduce in their quiet mirror the verdure of thick forests, while the immense vault of azure softens with its delicate tints the savage brightness of the vegetable colors and the reflections of the ocean. When the sun has risen and illuminates the scene, there break upon the view by turns clusters of dark and bright foliage of tall trees with grayish trunks, that remind the traveller of the pines of the misty mountains of the north. The sounds of the forest cease, and every thing seems lulled into inactivity ; the sap alone circulates with redoubled activity, and resolves itself into a disordered shower of llianas, flowers, and verdure. In the evening, when twilight has wrapped its shadows over water, mountain, and forest, gentle breezes spring up loaded with pleasant odors. Soon a fairy scene begins. Thousands of luminous coleoptera suddenly make their appearance amid the foliage of the trees, which they illuminate with their phosphorescent light. To see these moving sparks that flash upon the vision, cross each other, disappear, and then break forth again in a thousand capricious curves, one might imagine a mad racing of stars that had come down to play upon the water, to celebrate the voluptuous temperature of the night, thus joining the smiling beauties of nature to the dazzling splendor of the heavens.

I found myself at Bahia on the second of July, in the midst of a national anniversary. It was upon the same day, in the year 1528, that the last remains of the Portuguese army, under the command of Madeira, at last determined to abandon the soil of Brazil. The festival commenced on the evening of the preceding day. Troops of youths and negroes paraded the streets with flags, torches, and music at their head, The songs, or rather patriotic shouts, the noise of fire-crackers, fifes, and drums, the rockets that hissed through the air, continued their tumult far into the night. The next day at: dawn, the people began to decorate the houses and erect triumphal arches at the most prominent points. These preparations being made, all the free men put on their national guard uniform, and long, armed columns were the remainder of the day filing through the streets and promenades, gay with flags and wreaths. Pieces of cannon covered with flowers and banderoles were drawn by hand by youths not yet old enough to carry a musket. A broad band passed like a scarf across the chest, and bearing in large letters the words caizeroa nacionaes, (national clerks,) distinguished the young creoles employed in commercial houses, and representing the aristocracy of the city. The negroes, who formed a vast majority of the national guard, wore the Portuguese costume, and measured their steps with the dignity of free men, who knew the worth of their independence. From time to time a column would halt to allow the pieces of artillery drawn by the youths time to climb the sharp hills of the lofty city. Both sides of the streets were lined with negresses with turbans on their heads, who exchanged signs. with the soldiers they recognized beneath their uniform. In the evening the tumult of the previous evening is renewed with more frenzy than ever. Bands of negroes parade the streets, preceded by torches, shouting, dancing, and gesticulating. Occasionally a rocket set off from a window falls upon the crowd, and the joy is redoubled, The women especially, when hit by the sparks, fly around with loud cries and all manner of contortions to protect their