Remember the Rainforest tm

#24 The forest on Monte Corcovado, near Sebastianopolis, in the province of Rio de Janeiro.

Latin translation by Ben Hennelly

Etching #24 is copied from a picture by Thomas Ender, my friend and the companion of my journey: it presents part of the dense forest that covers the upper part of Monte Corcovado. See Corcovado on far left below.

It was chosen to be viewed by the reader's kind eyes especially because it displays that dark shade which the thriving tree growth there with its full foliage spreads over the ground. For large trees with long branches stretching their foliage out, interweave themselves above so tightly into a richly green portico, so to speak, that often even the openings for the sun are for the most part closed off, and light does not penetrate through to the lower parts of the always green grove unless the uppermost tree branches are shaken apart by the force of the winds. For this reason, throughout the greater part of the year, you see in these magnificent vaults of foliage only broken light, such as especially many pseudo-parasites, Orchideae, Aroideae and Bromeliaceae love, frequently growing on aging trunks.

Orchid

Aroideae

Bromelia exudans

The heat of the air here is generally throughout the whole year a few degrees lower than in the lower regions near the bay of Sebastianopolis. While there in lower places more open to the sun, the thermometer indicates during the day between 18° and 21° Centigrade in the cooler, and between 23° and 26° C. in the warmer months, and in that more elevated, shadowy recess of the forests it shows between 15° and 18° C., and 20° and 23° C. (1), and indeed it drops still more, so that one who has come to this place from the sun-burned shore is refreshed by a kind and pleasant cool.