The colony of Petropolis is situated in the midst of a virgin forest, at an elevation of 2,500 feet above the level of the sea, and, at the time of our visit, it had been founded about fourteen months, with the especial purpose of furnishing the capital with certain kinds of fruit and vegetables, which, in tropical climates, will thrive only in very high situations.  A small row of houses already formed a street, and on a large space that had been cleared away stood the wooden carcase of a larger building—­the Imperial Villa, which, however, would have some difficulty in presenting anything like an imperial appearance, on account of the low doors that contrasted strangely with the broad, lofty windows.  The town is to be built around the villa, though several detached houses are situated at some distance away in the woods.  One portion of the colonists, such as mechanics, shop-keepers, etc., had been presented with small plots of ground for building upon, near the villa; the cultivators of the soil had received larger patches, although not more than two or three yokes.  What misery must not these poor people have suffered in their native country to have sought another hemisphere for the sake of a few yokes of land!

We here found the good old woman who had been our fellow passenger from Germany to Rio Janeiro, in company with her son.  Her joy at being once more able to share in the toils and labours of her favourite had, in this short space of time, made her several years younger.  Her son acted as our guide, and conducted us over the infant colony, which is situated in broad ravines; the surrounding hills are so steep, that when they are cleared of timber and converted into gardens, the soft earth is easily washed away by heavy showers.

At a distance of four miles from the colony, a waterfall foams down a chasm which it has worn away for itself.  It is more remarkable for its valley-like enclosure of noble mountains, and the solemn gloom of the surrounding woods, than for its height or body of water.

29th September.  In spite of the danger we had incurred in coming, we returned to Porto d’Estrella on foot, went on board a bark, sailed all night, and arrived safely in Rio Janeiro the next morning.  Every one, both in Petropolis and the capital, was so astonished at the manner in which our lives had been attempted, that if we had not been able to show our wounds we should never have been believed.  The fellow was at first thought to have been drunk or insane, and it was not till later that we learned the real motives of his conduct.  He had some time previously been punished by his master for an offence, and on meeting us in the wood, he no doubt thought that it was a good opportunity of satisfying, with impunity, his hatred against the whites.

CHAPTER IV.  JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE BRAZILS.

The towns of Morroqueimado (Novo Friburgo) and Aldea do Pedro—­
plantations of the Europeans—­burning forests—­virgin forests—­last
settlement of the whites—­visit to the Indians, also called Puris or
RABOCLES—­return to Rio Janeiro.