to Portugal; and the most considerable fleets charged with supplies for
the new world, put into this port. The expenses of the government
amount annually to three millions of French livres (125,000l.), except
when it is thought a political measure to build men of war, which is a
great increase to the expense. Cultivation was for a long time much
neglected in this fine province, but it now becomes every day an object
of more and more attention. Though tobacco has not succeeded
particularly well, sugar canes have been extremely prosperous,
especially in the plains of Guatacazes. There were twelve plantations of
indigo, of the finest sort, in the year 1783; these are now much
increased in number. Coffee succeeds very well. The southern districts,
as far as Rio Grande, furnish a great many hides, some flour, and good
salt-meat; and the forests contain fourteen or fifteen different kinds
of wood for dyeing, with four or five sorts of gum. The commerce of
cochineal has been introduced for some years past into the island of St.
Catherine's.
VI. ST. PAUL.
This province is bounded to the north by the river Sapucachy, and by
mountains; to the south by the river Parnagua, and by other mountains,
which extend to the source of the river Ygassu; to the west by the
Parana, Rio Grande, and Rio dans Mortes; and to the east by the sea.
POPULATION.
11,093 Whites;--8,987 Negroes and Mulattoes;--32,126 Indians.
PRINCIPAL TOWN.
St. Paul, the capital of the government of that name, is at thirteen
miles from the sea, in a delightful climate, and in the midst of
country, the soil of which is equally favourable to the productions of
both hemispheres.
COMMERCE.
This government has no other trade with Europe than that of a small
quantity of cotton: and its only interior commerce consists in supplying
Rio Janeiro with flour and salt-meat. Flax and hemp succeed very well in
St. Paul's, as would also silk-worms, with proper attention. St. Paul
contains abundance of iron and tin mines, situated between the rivers
Thecte and Mogyassu: and also in the cordillera of Paranan and Piacaba,
four leagues from Sorocoba. The golden mines of Parnagua and Tibogy are
worked in this government.
VII. MINAS GERAES.
This government, and the two following ones, extend from east to west,
from the 319th degree of western longitude, to the 334th degree of the
same latitude. They occupy, in the centre of Brazil, that immense and
elevated surface, from which issue all the rivers which fall into the
Paraguay, the river of the Amazons, and the ocean. This is the highest
land in Portugueze America.
POPULATION.
35,128 Whites;--103,406 Slaves;--26,075 Indians.
PRINCIPAL TOWN.
The capital of Minas Geraes is Villa-Rica.
COMMERCE.
Minas Geraes is the most important of the three governments in which the
mines are situated. Mountains, in different directions intersect the
whole of these three districts, which are called the Mine Country, from
gold being found in every part of it. The inhabitants of St. Paul first
discovered gold mines near the mountain Jaquara, in the year 1577. Other
mines of the same metal were also discovered in 1588, on the heights of
Jacobina, in the district of Rio del Velhas. Permission was obtained,
though with some difficulty, from the king of Spain, in 1603, to work
some of them; and in 1699, some enterprising persons found out very
great treasure in the province of Minas Geraes. Three years afterwards
the court of Lisbon formed the necessary establishments to render them
profitable. The names of the place where gold has been found, and where,
indeed, it continues at present to be found, are as follows, _Sabara_,
_Rio das Mortes_, _Cachoeira_, _Paracatu_, _Do-Carmo_, _Rio-dal-Velhas_,
_Rio-Dolce_, and _Ouro-Prato_.
VIII. GOJAS.
POPULATION.
8,931 Whites;--34,104 Negroes;--29,622 Indians.
PRINCIPAL TOWN.
Villa-Boa is the capital of Gojas.
COMMERCE.
The mines of the government of Gojas were not discovered till 1726, and
are situated in the districts of _San-Felix_, _Meia-Ponta_, _O-Fanardo_,
_Mocambo_ and _Natividade_.
IX. MATOGROSO, or MATTO-GROSSO,
Is the most western part of the Portugueze possessions, and is bounded
by the Chiquites and the Moxos. These people are submitted to the
Spanish yoke, through the indefatigable labours of the Jesuits acting as
missionaries in that part of the world.
POPULATION.
2,035 Whites;--7,351 Slaves;--4,335 Indians.
PRINCIPAL TOWN.
The capital of Matogroso, called Villa-Bella, is merely a large
village.
COMMERCE.
In 1735, mines were discovered in the government of Matogroso, in _St.
Vincent's Chapada_, _St. Anne's Cuiada_, _and in Araes_.
OBSERVATIONS.
It is worthy of remark, that the extraction of gold in the New World is
neither dangerous nor laborious, since the purest, finest kind is
frequently found near the surface of the earth. They often dig for it
three or four fathoms, but seldom, if ever, deeper; since when the
miners meet with a bed of sandy earth, they know it to be unnecessary
labour to search to a greater depth. The veins which run the most
regular, and in the same direction, are the richest; yet, it has been
remarked, that those which yielded the greatest quantity of gold are
usually in spaces where the surface is the most spangled with crystals.
Larger pieces are found in mountains and stony barren rocks than either
in vallies or on the banks of rivers; but, from whatever place it be
taken, it is of three and twenty carats and a half in its pure state, on
coming out of the mine, except indeed, it should happen to be mixed with
iron, silver, mercury, or sulphur, which, however, is seldom the case,
unless at Araés or Gojas. Every person on discovering a mine is bound to
declare it to government. Should the vein be found to be trifling, on
being examined by those appointed to estimate its value, it becomes the
property of the public; but should it prove a rich one, the revenue
officers take care to reserve one share for themselves, whilst another
is given to the commandant, a third to the intendant, two more to the
original discoverer of the mine, and the remainder to the miners of the
district. This latter part is divided according to the different
fortunes of these people, which is determined by the number of slaves
they possess. The miners are obliged to pay the king of Portugal a fifth
part of the net profit arising from the gold extracted, which formerly
amounted to a considerable sum; and even now produces on an average
300,000l. sterling, annually. In 1781, the whole of the metals, whether
coined or in bars, in circulation at Brazil, were not estimated at quite
a million sterling, and what is still more remarkable, there was not
more than a third of the above sum in circulation in Portugal in
1752[51] and 1754, and even that was in alloyed silver money.
THE
NATURAL HISTORY
OF
BRAZIL.
_Quadrupeds used as Food._[52]
_Tapiierete_, the (P. 101, M. 229), is nearly the size of a heifer aged
six months, but is without horns. The flesh resembles in taste that of
an ox. The Brazilians dress it in the same manner as the Buccaneers
arrange their meat or fish.
_Cuquaçu-Eté_ (P. 98). This animal is a kind of stag, called by _Léry_
an _Ass-cow_. It is less than the European stag, has shorter horns, and
the hair about the length of a goat's.
_Tajaçu_ (P. 89, M. 229), is the wild boar of the country; he has an
opening on his back, through which he breathes; in other respects he is
like the European boar. The cry which he makes through his extraordinary
orifice is (according to an author, who _certainly_ never heard it) most
dreadful.
_Aguti_, or _Acuti_ (P. 102), is a red-haired animal about the size of a
pig a month old. The flesh is very good to eat. There is another species
of the same animal, called _Tapeti_.
_Rat._ The woods abound with a kind of rat of the size of a squirrel,
its flesh is very delicate.
_Paca_ (P. 101, M. 224). This animal is as large as a middle-sized dog.
The flesh tastes like veal.
_Jacaré_ (P. 282, M. 242). A small species of _Cayman_. The Brazilians
are particularly fond of eating them.
_Teiuguacu_, or _Teju_ (P. 283, M. 273). A grey lizard, four or five
feet long. _Léry_, who has eaten them, says, that when properly dressed,
they are as tender, as white, and have as good a taste as the wing of a
capon.
It is necessary to observe that the Brazilians not only eat lizards, and
some kind of serpents, but also large toads, broiled in the Buccaneer
fashion, with the heads and entrails.
_Domestic Fowls used as Food._
_Turkeys._ The Brazilians bred them formerly more for their feathers,
particularly the white ones, than for the purpose of eating them. They
reproached the Europeans with gluttony for eating their eggs.
_Ducks_, of which there are various species; but the Brazilians never
eat them, from an idea that the slow manner of walking of these birds,
might make those who fed upon them heavy, and unable to run with a
proper degree of activity. For the same reason they refrained from
eating all animals which moved slowly; and even some sorts of fish,
particularly the skate, which does not swim so fast as others.
_Nota._ European fowls, transported to the Brazils, live very well in
that climate, though growing larger than in their own country, their
taste gets less delicate; on the contrary, geese and ducks become still
finer.
_Wild Fowl used as Food._
_Jacupema_ (P. 81, M. 198). A species of pheasant, of which there are
three kinds. The plumage of every one of these birds is black and grey;
the only difference between them is in the size. The Brazilians declare
that it is impossible for any country to produce any thing more delicate
than the flesh of these birds.
_Mutu-Mitu_ (P. 80, M. 194) is excellent to eat, but not so common as
the _Jacupema_. M. le comte de Buffon classes it amongst the _Hocco_.
_Jambu_, (P. 81. M. 192). A species of partridge as large as our geese.
_Mangouris_, _Pegassous_, _Pecacaous_ (_Hist. Gen. Voy._). These three
birds may be also classed amongst the partridges. They are of different
sizes; the first is the size of a common partridge, the second of a
wood-pigeon, and the third of a turtle dove.
_Fish used as Food._
_Manatus_ (_Hist. Gen. Voy._), is particularly good in Brazil.
_Skate_. Those in the rivers _Janeiro_ and _Marevescona_, which Thévet
names _Inevouana_, are of a much larger size than ours. The entrails are
equally good with the rest of the fish.
_Acarapeba_ (P. 69 and 161) is a large flat fish, which _Léry_ declares
to be wonderfully delicate and fine. He gives it the name of
_Acarapep_.
_Beyupira_ or _Ceixupira_ (P. 48, M. 158). The Europeans compare this
fish to the sturgeon. It is in high estimation in Brazil. It is said to
be fat and in season all the year.
_Boopes_ (_His. Gen. Voy._). This name has been given to it by the
Portugueze, because its eyes are like those of an ox. The size and shape
are not very different from those of the tunny fish; but the taste is
not the same, and it is of a much fatter nature; its grease affording a
kind of oil or butter.
_Camaripuguaçu_ or _Camarupi_ (P. 65, M. 179). This fish is much
esteemed: its body is full of thorns, and it is so large that two men
can scarcely lift it.
_Piraumbu_ (P. 70, M. 167) is very much the same kind of fish as the
_Carpio_, but the taste is better. There are two stones in the jaws,
which it employs for breaking the shells which serve it for food.
_Amayaen_ (_His. Gen. Voy._) is a kind of sea frog, with a short body of
various colours. It is very good to eat, but it must be first carefully
skinned, and cleared of a poison which lies under the skin. There are
two other species of Amayaens, one of which is armed with thorns, and
though much more venomous than the former, is equally eaten. The other
is called by the Brazilians _Itaëca_. It is of a triangular form; and
contains poison not only in the skin, but in the liver and intestines:
this, however, does not make it more dangerous when once the venomous
parts are extracted.
_Nota._ All the fish on the coast of Brazil is reputed so wholesome,
that it is given to people in fevers as a remedy. At all events it may
always be eaten without danger to the sick person. Sharks, however must
be excepted; of which there are great numbers in this sea, and even in
the rivers.
The coast of Brazil abounds also in shellfish, amongst which the _Apula_
is particularly esteemed. (_Hist. Gen. Voy._)
There are several kinds of crayfish, the most esteemed of which is the
_Uca_. It is the principal food of the Portugueze and negroes, who find
it very good and wholesome, if they drink cold water after eating it.
_Plants and Vegetables used as Food._
_Mangaiba_ (P. 156, M. 76 and 122). A very large tree, which seldom
grows any where but in the environs of _Todos-Santos_ bay. This fruit
is eaten at two different epochs in the year: first when it is only in
bud, and afterwards when the fruit is come to perfection. It contains
stones, the kernels of which are good to eat. The flavour of this fruit
is delightful, and it is so wholesome, that it may be eaten in the
greatest abundance without danger. It falls from the tree before it is
ripe, consequently it is necessary to keep it till it is sufficiently
sweet to be eaten. The Brazilians make a kind of wine of it; and they
extract a bitter, viscous, milky liquor from the leaves, and the fruit
before it is ripe.
_Murucuja_ (P. 274, M. 106 and 70) resembles the wild pear-tree. The
fruit is gathered green, but becomes excellent as it ripens, and easy of
digestion. Incisions being made in the trunk of this tree, it yields a
milky liquor, which, when once coagulated, becomes of a consistance like
wax.
_Araca-Iba_ (P. 152, M. 74 and 105). A species of pear-tree, which bears
abundantly at all seasons in the year. There are several kinds of this
tree, the fruit of which is red, green, and yellow, and of an excellent
flavour.
_Umbu_ (P. 167). A short thick tree, bearing a round fruit of a
yellowish hue, and very like our white plumb, with this difference, that
it is so injurious to the teeth, that the savages, who eat great
quantities of it, soon become toothless. The root is sweet, wholesome,
and refreshing.
_Jaçapucaya_ (P. 135, M. 128). The fruit of this tree, when eaten raw,
is said to cause baldness; but if roasted it is no longer dangerous.
_Araticu_ (P. 141, M. 93). This tree bears a fruit of the size of a
walnut, and is as pleasant to the smell as to the taste. There are
several species of this tree, amongst which the one called
_Aratieupanauia_ bears a fruit of so very cold a nature, that, eaten to
excess, it has all the effect of poison.
_Poupekia_ (P. 141). There are two species of this tree, one bears a
fruit like an orange, the juice of which is like honey, and as sweet as
sugar: it also contains some seeds. The other species, called by the
Portugueze _Setis_, is esteemed the hardest wood in Brazil, and regarded
as incorruptible.
_Cabureiba_ (P. 119, M. 56) is an extremely large tree, very common in
the ancient captaincies of St. Vincent, and exceedingly scarce
elsewhere. The balm which distils from it is excellent.
_Pines._ In the interior parts of Brazil, beyond St. Vincent's and
towards Paraguay, are forests entirely of pines, bearing a fruit
resembling those in Europe, only rounder, larger, and more wholesome.
_Nota._--There is no country where roots and vegetables are more
plentiful than in Brazil. Beans in that part of the world are more
wholesome than in Portugal; in short, every thing the Portugueze have
transplanted to Brazil have succeeded remarkably well. A particular
species of yucca-root grows in that country, called _Aypi_; it may be
eaten raw with impunity. The Brazilians make use of the common
yucca-root in two ways; the one boiled till it becomes hard is called
_Ouïenta_, and the other less boiled, consequently softer, _Ouipou_.
Brazil may be justly regarded as the mother country of pine apples,
which grow in such abundance, that the savages fatten their hogs with
that delicious fruit, which in that country is distinguished by three
particular qualities; _first_, the rind is so hard that it absolutely
blunts the edge of a knife: _secondly_, the juice is used as a kind of
soap to take spots out of cloths: _thirdly_, the fruit itself is
regarded as a preservative against sea-sickness.
_Clusius_ makes mention of twelve different kinds of pepper, the produce
of Brazil. In short, _Léry_ remarks, that Brazil produces very few
animals similar to those in Europe: nor does it, indeed, any plants of
the same nature; except purslane, sweet basil, and heath, which grow in
some spots exactly in the same manner, and in the same shape, and with
the same qualities, as in Europe.
_Medicinal Plants._
_Copaiba_ (P. 118, M. 56) resembles a fig-tree, only straighter,
thicker, and of a greater height. It contains a very great quantity of
oil, as clear as that produced from the olive-tree. This oil requires
only a very slight incision to procure great abundance: it is said not
only to cure wounds, but to prevent them from leaving scars.
_Ambayba_ (P. 147, M. 91) resembles also the fig-tree, and the interior
pellicle, under the rind, is said to be as efficacious in the speedy
cure of wounds, as the most celebrated balsam. The leaves of this tree
are of so hard a nature, that they are employed for polishing the
hardest wood.
_Ambaygtinga_ (P. 148, M. 92). This tree is of the same species as the
former one, and grows in the above-mentioned pine forests. It bears on
the top a kind of small bladder, which, on bursting, distils, drop by
drop, an admirable liquor, which has all the qualities of balsam, and is
employed for closing wounds, curing scrofulous humours, and pains in the
stomach; for the latter complaint it is taken mixed with a little wine.
_Ighucamici_ (_Hist. Gen. Voy._) grows abundantly in the environs of St.
Vincent, and bears a fruit like a quince, but filled with seeds, which
is a powerful remedy for a dysentery.
_Icicariba_ (P. 122, M. 59). This tree produces a sort of mastick of an
excellent smell. On beating the rind in a mortar, a white liquor issues
from it, which, when condensed, is employed as incense, and is found to
be an efficacious application for any part of the body affected with the
king's evil.
_Cururu-Ape_ (P. 250, M. 114). The leaves are like those of the
peach-tree, and produce a whitish liquor, regarded as a sovereign remedy
for wounds and pimples.
_Caaroba_ (P. 143, M. 70). The wood of this tree, which is very common
in Brazil, is reputed to possess the same virtue as Guiacum wood, for
the cure of a particular disorder.
_Jaborandi_ (P. 215, M. 97). This tree is also called by the Brazilians
_Bétélé_, and generally grows on the banks of a river; the leaves are a
specific remedy in liver complaints. Another species of Bétélé, less
than the former, and with round leaves, possesses the same virture in
the root; which is as great a caustic as ginger, and when applied to the
gums, removes any complaint in that part.
_Anda_ (P. 148, M. 110). The Americans extract an oil from this great
tree, with which they rub themselves. Water in which the rind has been
soaked for some days, acts as a soporific on any kind of animal.
_Ajuratibira_ (_Hist. Gen. Voy._) is merely a shrub, bearing a red
fruit, from which the Brazilians extract an oil of the same colour, with
which they likewise anoint themselves.
_Janipaba_ (P. 138, M. 92) is one of the most beautiful trees in Brazil,
and of the finest green; it changes its leaves every three months, and
bears a fruit resembling an orange, but tasting like a quince, and is
esteemed an excellent remedy for the dysentery.
_Caapeba_ (P. 261, M. 94) is a plant, which is an almost certain cure
for the bite of all venomous animals, particularly for that of a
serpent; and is usually termed the _serpent plant_. The root, or rather
the knot which divides it, is supposed to possess this virtue: the knot
is bruised and taken in water; and is likewise thought an excellent
specific for the wounds caused by poisonous arrows.
_Gobaura_ (_Hist. Gen. Voy._). This plant when reduced to powder, and
applied to the most inveterate ulcers, dries them up, and makes them
skin over.
_Guaraquima_ (_Hist. Gen. Voy._) resembles the Portugueze myrtle. It
possesses several virtues, particularly that of curing worms; and
requires no other preparation than making choice of the best leaves.
_Tyroqui_, or _Tiroqui_, or _Tereroqui_ (_Hist. Gen. Voy._). This plant
has leaves like the cinqfoil, and the root divided into several cods,
with very slender branches. It grows abundantly every where, and its
principal virtue is curing dysenteries. The Brazilians inhale the smoke
of this plant in all their different complaints, and it is thought an
efficacious remedy for worms; a very common malady in that country.
AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
DIAMONDS OF BRAZIL.[53]
_Principal Districts wherein Diamonds are found._
The province of Brazil, which produces diamonds, is situated inland,
between 22-1/2 and 16 degrees of south latitude. Its circumference is
near 670 leagues. On the east it is limited by the captaincy or province
of Rio Janeiro; on the south by that of St. Paul; on the north by the
_Sertoens_, or interior part of the maritime province of the Bay of All
Saints, and part of that of the mines of Goyarel; on the west, lastly,
by another part of the last-mentioned province, and by those deserts and
forests which are inhabited by the savages, and extend to the frontiers
of Paraguay. On the side nearest St. Paul there are vast uncultivated
plains; the interior is divided by chains of mountains and hills, with
superb vallies and luxuriant fertile plains. It abounds with wood, and
is watered by a great number of rivers and brooks, that facilitate the
working of the mines of gold, which is obtained by washing in spangles
from the river sands, or in veins open to the day. This province is
divided into four _comarcas_ or districts, which, reckoning from north
to south, are, _Santo Joao del Rei_, _Villa-Rica_, _Sabara_, and
_Sero-Dosrio_, or Cold Mountain, called in the language of the savages
_Yritauray_. The diamonds are found in this last district. The whole
province is very rich in the ores of iron, antimony, zinc, tin, silver,
and gold.
There are also diamond mines in the other districts of Brazil;
particularly in Cuiaba, in the country of Guara-Puara, and in the
government of St. Paul; but these mines have never yet been
explored.[54]
_Discovery of the Mines._
The Paulists and inhabitants of the ancient captaincy of St. Vincent
were the first who discovered these mines, and peopled, in great part,
the whole of this rich province, as well as those of _Matto-Grosso_,
_Cuiahe_, _Goyares_, and _Rio Grande de San Pedro_. Anthonio Soary, a
Paulist, who gave his name to one of these mountains, was the first who
discovered and visited the _Sero-Dosrio_. Gold only was sought for, but
at last diamonds were discovered in the _Riacho Fundo_, whence they were
first obtained, and afterwards in the _Rio de Peire_; a great number
were likewise obtained from the _Giguitignogna_, a very rich stream;
and, lastly, in the end of 1780, and beginning of 1781, a gang of nearly
three thousand interlopers, called _Grimpeiros_, discovered diamonds,
and obtained an immense quantity from the _Terra de Santo Antonio_; but
they were forced to abandon this spot to the royal farm, who took
possession of it. Then it was that the suspicion was confirmed, that the
mountains are the true _matrices_ of diamonds; but as the work in the
beds of rivers and on their banks is less tedious, can be conducted on a
larger scale, and affords larger diamonds, the farm abandoned the
mountains, and formed great establishments in the river of
_Toucanbirnen_, which flows through the valleys of this chain, and is
near ninety leagues in length. It was found by examination and digging,
that the whole surface of the ground, immediately beneath the vegetable
stratum, contained more or less of diamonds, disseminated and attached
to a matrix ferruginous and compact in various degrees, but never in
veins, or in the division of geodes.
_Figure of the Diamonds, and manner of exploring them._
The figure of the diamonds of Brazil varies. Some are octoedrical,
formed by the union of two tetraedrical pyramids. This is the _Adamas
octoëdrus turbinatus_ of Wallerius, or the octoedrical diamond of Romé
de l'Isle. These are almost always found in the crust of the mountains;
others are nearly round, whether by a peculiar crystallization or by
rolling. They resemble those Oriental stones, which the Portugueze and
natives of India call _reboludos_, which signifies rolled. Lastly,
others are oblong, and appear to me to be the _Adamas hexaëdrus
tabellatus_ of Wallerius. The two last are usually found in the beds of
rivers and broken places in their banks.