_Its Colonization--Contests with the French and Tamoyo Indians
--Expulsion of the French--Foundation of St. Sebastian--
Boundaries--Division into Comarcas--Mountains--Principal
Rivers--Lakes--Bays--Capes--Islands--Mineralogy--Zoology--Phytology
--Cities and Towns--Boundaries, Towns, and Productions of the
Comarcas of Ilha Grande and Parahiba Nova--Boundaries of the
Comarca of Rio de Janeiro--The Metropolis--Situation--English
Burial-Ground--Streets--Royal Mode of riding--Compulsory
Homage upon the Occasion--Churches--Convents--Gloria
Hill--Female Convents--Visit to one--Fountains--Visit to
the Aqueduct--Squares--Palace--Public Buildings--Public
Garden--Library--Manufactories--Theatre--Roads leading from the
City--Palace of St. Christovāo--Troops of Miners and others
from the Interior--Caza de Don Pedro--Royal Mill, Shacara, and
Stables--Fire-Works--Beija Maō--Fidalgos and higher Orders
of Society--Splendour of Churches--Royal Chapel--Religious
Festivals and Observances--Funeral Processions--Catacombs--The
Host--State of Society--Markets._
Joam de Solis, who has been already mentioned, entered the bay of Rio
de Janeiro, in the year 1515, on his second voyage to South America;
and about four years afterwards Fernando de Magellan, and Ruy Falleiro,
a famous Portuguese mathematician who accompanied him, also remained
a short time in it, bestowing upon it the name of St. Luzia. Martini
Alfonso de Souza, who was engaged in an exploration of the whole coast,
went into the bay on the 1st of January, 1532, and very improperly
gave it the name, which it yet retains, of Rio de Janeiro, (River of
January,) evincing, what would not be supposed to be possible, that
he considered it a river. No attempts were made, however, to form any
settlements here till the year 1555, when M. Villegagnon, a Frenchman,
who had rescued Queen Mary from Scotland, with his comrades, took
possession of the second island, after passing the entrance into
the bay. His avowed object was that of propagating Calvinism in the
new world. On this island, which took and still retains his name,
he constructed the fort of Coligni, in honour of the excellent man
and famous admiral, Gaspar de Coligni, his patron and warm supporter
in establishing this colony, to which, in the following year, he
despatched a further succour of three ships of war and near three
hundred persons. King John III. of Portugal, receiving intelligence of
this event, ordered Duarthe da Costa, then governor-general at Bahia,
individually, to make himself acquainted with the actual state of the
Protestants; but no attempts were made to displace them till after
the death of the King, when Dona Catharina gave instructions to Mendo
de Sa, the successor of Duarthe da Costa, to expel them, sending him
two armed ships, with some caravels, which the governor augmented by
some ships of war and two caravels that were in the port, and putting
on board all the people he could assemble, personally embarked with
the squadron. He visited all the intervening capitanias of the coast,
and received on board all those who were willing to accompany him.
The French defended themselves vigorously against the attacks of this
fleet; but not being able to remedy the destruction and havoc which
they sustained from the more powerful ships of the Portuguese, they
retired by night to the continent, uniting themselves with the Tamoyo
Indians, whose friendship they had previously conciliated. Mendo de Sa
collected the artillery which the French had left, and, with one of
their ships, which he found in the port, he returned to Bahia.
Intelligence was received afresh that the Protestants continued to
frequent the bay of Rio de Janeiro, and were successively becoming
more strongly fortified in the continental situations they had taken
up. The crown of Portugal, now discovering of how much importance it
would be effectually to take possession of and colonize this fine port,
which having no donatory or forces to impede the establishment of
whatever enemy might think proper to proceed there for that purpose,
resolved to despatch Estacio de Sa to Bahia, with two galliots, and
there to receive from his uncle, Mendo de Sa, the governor, such an
accession of force as would enable him to extirpate the French. Estacio
de Sa, having augmented the squadron as much as circumstances would
allow, arrived at Rio de Janeiro in 1565, and took up a station near
the Sugar-Loaf Mountain, at the place now called Villa Velha; but in
various attacks, which he made upon the united French and Indians,
fortune was never decisively propitious to him. This circumstance
induced Mendo de Sa to prepare, in the bay of Bahia, an armament, which
consisted of three galliots, commanded by Christovam de Barros, two
ships of the crown, which were cruizing on the coast, and six caravels.
This auxiliary force he accompanied in person to the assistance of his
nephew, visiting, as before, the intervening capitanias, and offering
to convey, gratuitously, all families who might wish to people the
future colony; and, in consequence, a great many did accompany him. He
arrived on the 18th of January, 1567, but deferred the attack till the
20th, that day being St. Sebastian’s, under whose auspices he meant
to begin and carry on the enterprise. Two years had previously passed
in useless and indecisive contention, which, in two days, Mendo de
Sa brought to a successful termination, by possessing himself of the
forts Urussumiri and Paranapucuy, not, however, without his followers
feeling the effect of the arrows of the Tamoyos, which often transfixed
the shield to the arm that supported it. Amongst others, Estacio de
Sa received a wound from one of them, of which he expired a few days
afterwards. The French escaped in four ships which they had in the
harbour; and Mendo de Sa did not allow much time to elapse before he
removed the first establishment to the situation now forming a ward
or district of the present capital, denominated Misericordia, and
there marked out its commencement. In honour of his patron saint,
he gave it the name of St. Sebastian, which has given way to that
of Rio de Janeiro now more generally used. The governor assigned to
the celebrated Jesuit, Nobrega, ground, in the midst of the city,
for a college, which he endowed for the support of fifty brethren.
Having occupied himself near a year and a half in arranging every
thing necessary for the continuation and security of the new city, he
returned to the capital in June, 1568. He left for governor his nephew,
Salvador Corrêa de Sa, whose administration was short, as well as that
of Christovam de Barros, who succeeded him by royal patent, and whose
jurisdiction over the affairs of the capitania terminated in 1572, when
King Sebastian divided the state into two governments; the city of St.
Sebastian becoming the capital of the southern division, which was
delivered to Dr. Antonio Salema, with power over the capitanias from
the river Belmont, southward. The same sovereign, becoming sensible of
the inconvenience resulting to the crown from this partition, ordered
that the general executive government should revert to its anterior
state; and nominated, as successor to Salema, the said Salvador Corrêa
de Sa, with patent of captain-general, dated the 10th January, 1576,
and who remained in this situation until the year 1598. None of those
who followed him governed during so long a period, with the exception
of Sandozo Gomes Freyre d’Andrade, who discharged the duties of the
appointment from the year 1733 to 1763, and which expired only with his
life in the course of the latter year.
This province, which acquires its name from the magnificent port of
its capital, now comprehends the ci-devant capitania of St. Thomé,
half of that of St. Vincente, and a portion of Espirito Santo. It is
bounded on the north by the latter, from which it is separated by the
river Cabapuâna, and by the province of Minas Geraes, from which it is
divided by the rivers Preto and Parahiba, and in part by the serra of
Mantiqueira; on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, which also washes its
eastern limits; and on the west by the province of St. Paulo. It is
estimated to be sixty leagues in length, from east to west, near its
northern extremity; and twenty-three leagues of medium width, reckoning
from the fortress of St. Cruz, at the entrance of the bay of Rio de
Janeiro, to the river Parahibuna, and to have fifty leagues of southern
coast, from Cape Frio to Cape Trinidade, which is near three leagues to
the west of Point Joatinga. It is divided by the Organ Mountains into
two parts; Northern, or Serra-Acima, (Mountains above,) and Southern,
or Beira-Mar, (Sea-coast,) which latter is subdivided into four, and
the former into two districts or territories, as follows:--
{ Ilha Grande.
Beira-Mar { Rio de Janeiro.
{ Cape Frio.
{ Goytacazes.
Serra-Acima { Parahiba-Nova.
{ Canto-Gallo.
A line drawn from south to north, commencing at the fort of Lage, at
the entrance of the port of Rio, passing up the middle of the bay, by
the river Inhumirim upwards, and on to the origin of the Piabanha,
descending by it to the Parahiba, divides the province into east and
west.
MOUNTAINS.--All the districts of this province, with the
exception of Goytacazes, are picturesquely mountainous, and present
an infinite variety of novel, sublime, and wondrous scenery, of which
no verbal description can give an adequate representation. The Organ
Mountains, so called from the similarity which their pyramidical heads,
in various parts, bear to the front of an organ, are the principal.
That portion of them which assimilates more distinctly to the object
from which the whole range derives the name is an approximation
of precipitous pointed masses, separated by profound winding and
narrow valleys, through which romantic openings the way leads from
Beira-Mar to the district of Canto-Gallo, without having to ascend any
comparatively high elevations in traversing them. This is, indeed, the
region of solemn and poetic sequestration. Its unchanged and primeval
condition would appear to afford a suitable retirement for such as have
acquired a calamity-induced distortion of the mind,--a misanthropical
distaste to society and the world.
The Macacu, otherwise Serra-Grande, (Great Mountain,) the mountains
of St. Anne, of Sambe, of Tapacora, and of Urussanga, are situated in
that extremity betwixt the districts of Rio de Janeiro and Cape Frio;
the Mount of St. Joam, a league above the emboucheur of the river of
the same name, the Serra Jarixina, about twenty miles north-west of
the capital, and that of Bocaina, in the district of Parahiba-Nova,
constitute, together with the Organ Mountains, those of the greatest
altitude in the province.
RIVERS.--It cannot boast of any very large or magnificent
rivers, although it is irrigated by innumerable streams descending
from the mountains. The river Parahiba is the only considerable one,
originating in a small lake, situated upon a southern portion of the
Serra Bocaina, a continuation of the Organ range, and about five
leagues to the north of Paraty. It runs at first under the name of
Paratinga, parallel with the mountains prolonged in piles from the
south-west, in a line with the coast; enters the province of St.
Paulo, where it receives the small river Jacuhy, by the left bank, a
little above the town of St. Luiz, and somewhat below it, by the same
margin, the river Parahibuna, which rises in the serra of Ubatuba. At
this confluence it takes the name of Parahiba, approximates the sea a
little to the west of the meridian of the capital, then turns towards
the north-north-east, flowing along the base of Serra Itapeva, and by
the town of Jacarehy. After a course of twenty leagues, with little
variation, it inclines to the east and east-south-east, watering the
towns of Thaubate, Pindamonhangaba, Guaratingueta, and Lorena; again
turns towards the province in which it has its source, approaching
it within five leagues; bathes the town of Rezende; inclines to the
north-east, gathering the river Pirahy, (which comes in a northern
course from its origin in the serra of Ilha Grande,) and many
leagues lower, having taken an easterly direction, it receives the
Parahibuna which is its largest confluent, by the left margin, and the
afore-mentioned Piabanha, by the right. This part is designated Tres
Rios, (Three Rivers.) Ten leagues below, the Pomba enters it by the
northern bank, which flows from the western part of the Serra Frecheira
principally in a south-east course, through a stony bed, rendering the
navigation difficult even to canoes. A little lower it receives the
Bengálas, which brings with it various other streams. Soon after this
junction, it descends the precipitous fall of St. Fideles, to which
point barks ascend. Eight leagues lower down, the Muriahe empties
itself into it by the northern margin. Six leagues may be computed
from this confluence to the emboucheur of the river Parahiba, and from
thence to the fall of St. Fideles, which is the first advancing up the
river, seventy-two islands are numbered; and above this fall they
are still more numerous. Its waters are precipitated by a great many
falls, which run principally through a stony bed, and are discharged
into the Atlantic, on the eastern coast of the province. This river
does not bring with it to the ocean so large a volume of water as
might be imagined from its vast extent, which may be accounted for by
its running principally betwixt two cordilleras, (the Organ Mountains
and the Mantiqueira with their branches,) the greatest interval of
which does not exceed twenty leagues, and almost all its tributary
streams are poor and inconsiderable. Eight leagues below Lorêna, where
it has already assumed the appearance of a large river, its course
is contracted by a long wall of rock, of more than sixty feet high
and six hundred yards in extent, reducing its channel to the width of
about ten yards. It abounds in a great variety of fish. The adjacent
territory, on both banks, from its source to its mouth, is considered
to be well adapted for the growth of the sugar cane, and the very small
part of it which is cultivated, is appropriated to that purpose; but
the far greatest proportion yet remains in a state of wild nature, and
although perhaps granted to different donatories, its impenetrable
woods form the native retreat of the Indian and the ounce, each still
asserting the claim of possession. The river Maccahe, which has a
course of fifteen leagues, affording ten leagues of navigation to a
fall, rises in the Organ range, and winds amongst mountains and woods,
till it encounters the St. Pedro, formed by various small streams in
the vicinity of Serra Frade. Three leagues may be computed from this
confluence to its emboucheur, which is in front of the islands of St.
Anna, thirty miles north of Cape Frio, dividing that district from
Goytacazes. The river St. Joam rises in the skirts of the rock of
Canudos, with the name of _Aguas Claras_, (Clear Waters,) more
considerable, and affording navigation for a greater space than the
Maccahe, runs like it amongst woods and mountains, and disembogues
about seven leagues to the south-west of it, bathing the southern
skirts of the mountain of its name. Large quantities of timber are
exported by it. The rivers Curubichas and Bannanal join it by the
left bank, the Bacaxa, which issues from the Serra St. Anna with the
appellation of _Rio do Oiro_, (the Gold River,) unites it on the
right by two mouths, having formed, a little higher, a large lake, into
which the Capivari, coming from the same serra, empties itself. Below
this confluence, little more than three leagues, the Ipuca disembogues,
rises near the Maccahe, and forms a considerable island. After it the
Lontra, and ultimately the Doirado, near which there is a remarkable
production, called the _jiquitiba_ tree, its trunk being fifty-six
spans in circumference. All three are navigable, and incorporate
themselves with the river St. Joam, by its northern margin.
The river Guandu takes its name at the confluence of the St. Anna with
the das Lages, the courses of which are in an opposite direction to
this point; the first issues from the Organ Mountains, near the heads
of the river Piabanha, and runs south-west till it encounters the
other, which flows north-east from its origin in the frontier serra
of Ilha Grande. The Guandu passes the royal palace (ex-Jesuitical)
of St. Cruz, and discharges itself by two mouths into the bay of
Marambaya. The early possessors of this part of the country, in order
to evitate the damage which they sustained by the inundations of this
river, submerging the extensive and fine campinhas (plains) of the
southern part, opened a trench of two miles long from it to the small
river Taguahy, which runs in a parallel direction, and by this mode
discharged the excess of water which the banks of the Guandu could not
contain at the period of the floods. The western mouth, or that of
Taguahy, is little more than a league distant from the proper one of
the Guandu: barks navigate both. The river Mambucâba, which is a fine
river, even beyond the point where the tide reaches, issues from the
serra of Bocaina, and disembogues in front of the bar of Cayrussu.
LAKES.--Lakes are numerous in this province. The principal
are situated in the districts of Cape Frio and Goytacazes; many of
them are surrounded by marshy lands, and none possess, in any point
of view, the attractions peculiar to such diffusions of inland water
in Europe. The lake of Jacaré-pagua, or Jaracapauha, is narrow and
about four leagues long, parallel with and very near to the beach. It
abounds with fish, receives some small streams, and has an outlet to
the sea at its eastern extremity. It is situated at the eastern base of
the picturesque and lofty mountain of the Gavea, about two leagues to
the west of the Sugar-Loaf. At its opposite base is the beautiful and
highly pleasing cascades of Tejuca.
The lake of Roderigo de Freytas is of a circular form, and half
a league in diameter; is about two miles distant from the bay
of Bota-fogo, and five from the capital. In its vicinity is the
mother-church of the parish of St. Joam Baptista; also the royal
manufactory of gunpowder, and a botanical garden of trees and exotic
plants. The tea plant is here cultivated, and, unquestionably, would
prosper in this climate with proper attention; but this establishment,
upon the whole, is miserably neglected. The lake of Marica, which is
a league and a half in length, from north-east to south-east, and
little less in width, communicates with that of Cururupina, nearly of
equal length from east to west, and about the same width from north to
south. They both approach very much to a triangular form. The channel
which unites them is called the river Bambuhy, and forms a small lake
in the centre. The Cururupina is the eastern one, and its extremity
is near Negra Point, which is at an equal distance betwixt Cape Frio
and the Sugar-Loaf Mountain. The rivulet of Bananal, and that from
which it takes its name, are the largest streams that enter it. The
Marica, under which name the small one is also comprehended, receives
at its southern end the Baccahi, which half a league above its mouth
traverses the lake Braba, about a mile long. The small river Itapitiu
enters its northern extremity. It is prolonged in a parallel line; and
at a short distance from the sea, to which it opens a passage in the
winter or rainy season, possesses a great abundance of excellent fish,
and, in consequence, furnishes a branch of the _dizimos_ (a tax
of one-tenth) of the province. The lake of Piratininga, three-quarters
of a league from east to west, and proportionably wide, is about a
mile distant from the Sacco, or Gulph of St. Joam de Carahi; it is
also abundant in fish, and is separated from the sea by a sand-bank,
through which a passage is opened in the rainy season, to prevent its
inundating the adjacent country. Near half a league to the east of
Piratininga is situated the lake Itaypu, a mile and a half long, and
of proportionable width; and betwixt it and the sea is the parish of
the same name, the church of which is dedicated to St. Sebastian. Its
inhabitants are fishermen and cultivators of mandioca and sugar.
BAYS.--This province can boast of two as fine ports as any in the
world, the bays of Rio de Janeiro and of Angra dos Reys (King’s bay,
or creek.) The first is upwards of twenty leagues from Cape Frio, and,
of all others in South America, merits most properly the denomination
of a bay; its narrow entrance, embosomed in lofty scenery of the
beautiful and sublime, being about eight hundred and fifty fathoms
in width, and fourteen in depth, while the bay itself, which is six
leagues in length, almost north and south, four at its greatest width,
and thirty-two in circumference, is beautified with a great number of
islands, and has depth for the reception of the largest fleets. It may
be said to be divided into two emboucheurs, as the island of Lage,
occupied by a fort of the same name, is situated about the centre. The
entrance of the bay is commanded by the additional fort of St. Cruz,
on the east, and the batteries of St. Joze and St. Theodozio, on the
western side, near an immense naked rock, already mentioned, which is
ninety-seven fathoms in perpendicular altitude, and is in the form
of a sugar-loaf, and so denominated. The fort of St. Cruz is situated
at the base of a high rugged mountain, called Pico, in consequence of
its having a pointed termination. From hence signals are made to the
city, announcing all vessels as they appear upon the horizon. The two
principal bays that branch from it are, Bota-fogo, behind the batteries
of St. Jose and St. Theodozio, and the larger one of Jurufuba, to the
north of Fort St. Cruz. Upon the beach of the latter is situated the
parish of St. Joam de Carahi. The first discovery of this bay and the
origin of its improper name have been already alluded to; its more
appropriate and primitive name was _Nitherohy_. Lery, who was there
with Villegagnon, says, that the Indians then called it _Ganabara_;
but the first is the most suitable, “_nithero_” signifying concealed,
or hidden, and “_hy_” water, as it is only on arriving in front of
the inlet that the bay is discovered, being previously concealed by
mountains. This bay is the receptacle of a vast number of rivers,
principally inconsiderable; but, as they are the medium of an easy
conveyance to the capital of the productions in their vicinity, it
may not be unimportant to describe those of the most consequence. Two
leagues and a half, in a direct line, or four by the road towards
Campinha, is the mouth of the river Iraja, which issues from one of
the small lakes, and affords navigation with the tide to its port of
the same name. A quarter of a league to the north of the preceding,
the Miriti enters the bay, increased by the junction of the Inhamuahi,
(which issues from the Serra Bangu,) and the Pavuna, about two leagues
and a half distant from its mouth. It traverses a country in a great
measure marshy, and is only navigable for the space of three miles,
in a direct line to the port which takes its name, where cases of
sugar, and the produce of St. Joam and Our Lady of Apezentacâo, are
put on board the bay boats. About a league to the north of it is the
Sarapuhi, which originates in the Serra Cachoeira. Its banks are
serpentine, and it is only navigable for about a league. The dwellers
in the parishes of St. Antonio and Jacutinga export their productions
by it. The Iguassu, a mile further to the north-east, has its source
in the Serra Tinguá; is navigable for four leagues; brings with it to
the bay the waters of the Iguare, which issues from one of the lakes,
and affords navigation for a mile to the port bearing its name. Also
the Maraby, flowing from the Serra Boa-Vista, and navigable to the
port of Couto, three leagues above its mouth. It also receives the Dos
Ramos, navigable for a space of eight miles, to the skirts of the Serra
Mantiqueira, in which it originates. The river Inhumirim enters the
bay about half a league further, and is navigable for three leagues:
one of its confluents, the Jaguamirim, flows from the morasses, and
affords navigation for six miles; another, the Saracuruna, descends
from the serra of its name, and is navigable only for a league; also
the Figueyra, which comes from Serra Frade. Boats go up very near to
its origin, where it has the name of Cayoába. By the Inhumirim, (the
source of which is little distant from the Piabanha,) the miners,
amounting to no great number, comparatively, descend by boats to the
capital, and return in the same way, with manufactured articles, up its
channel to the port of Estrella, where they leave the mules to recruit
for the return journey; but the major part of these people, as well as
others, proceed the whole way with the mules. The port of Estrella is
a flourishing place, (being on the main way to the mines,) with some
little commerce, and has a chapel of Our Lady, situated in the angle of
the confluence of the aforesaid Saracuruna, four miles from the bay.
From the Inhumirim there is a channel to the river Pilar, the last
confluent of the Iguassu. Little more than two leagues to the
east-north-east of the Inhumirim, and in front of the small island of
Guayanna, the Suruhy, issuing from the Organ Mountains, discharges
itself into the bay, and, like the others, admits of the navigation of
boats up its channel for about seven miles. It receives the Goya, which
comes from one of the morasses. All the productions of the adjacent
country are excellent; and there is, perhaps, no soil better adapted
for banana groves, which are cultivated here with great care. Half a
league further is the mouth of the Iriry, which originates in marshy
ground, and is only navigable for two miles.
About two miles to the east of the Iriry, is the emboucheur of the
Magéassú, which descends from the Organ Mountains, bathes the town of
the same name, and affords navigation for ten miles. The Guapimirim,
is about two miles from the Magé. Its course is about six leagues, and
originates in the same mountains.
About two miles from hence is the principal of two mouths by which
the Macacu enters the bay. It is one of its largest streams, and is
navigable for fifteen leagues. Alligators of a very large size inhabit
its banks, and take shelter amongst the high reeds which grow in the
water. Its source is in the Organ Mountains, near the rock called
Canudos, and it is united on its right margin by the rivers Guapiassu,
Cabucu, and Varge; on its left by the Cacerebu and the Aldeia. The
Guapiassu, which is the most considerable, comes from the same
mountains as the Macacu; and, a little before its incorporation with
that river, communicates with it by a channel called Rio dos Morros
(River of Rocks.) There is a quarry of _pedra sabāo_, a peculiar
stone, near its heads, which is excavated in large pieces, and sawn
for the purpose of forming the mouths of furnaces in _engenhos_,
or sugar-works, being considered of eternal duration. The principal
confluent of this tributary river is Piracinunga, the main branch
of which originates between the high points of the Organ Mountains.
Betwixt the rivers Macacu and Guapiassu there is a certain portion
of territory, comprising about two leagues, the most fertile in the
district, which was bequeathed, in 1718, by André da Costa, as a
legacy to some poor persons, with inalienable succession, and an
annual pension of two missas, (masses,) for each house. This colony
has now arrived at the number of twelve hundred individuals, and this
bequest would maintain ten times as many, with adequate industry.
The Guaxindiba flows from the Serra Taypu, and, describing numerous
windings and turnings, enters the bay about two miles from the Macacu.
The Emboassu, disemboguing four miles further, has its source in the
Serra St. Gonçalo, and is navigable with the tide for a short distance.
The islands with which this bay is ornamented are numerous, but of
inconsiderable extent. The principal is the isle of Governador,
which is little more than two leagues long, from east to west, and
proportionably wide. It is of an irregular form, having many headlands,
and small creeks, and forms the parish of Our Lady of Ajuda. The
parishioners are generally agriculturists and labourers. It is situated
almost in the middle of the bay. The isle of Bom Jesus, but better
known by the name of Frades, is about two miles long, from east to
west, and of trifling width. It is the site of a convent of lazy
Franciscans, which has a handsome and commanding appearance. The King
visits the island occasionally, on the celebration of some particular
religious festivity. He spent two or three days with the friars in
the summer of 1819. It is not far distant from his palace of St.
Christovao. The island of Paqueta possesses more natural charms than
any other in the bay, and is situated near its northern extremity. It
is about three miles long, from north to south, and of inconsiderable
width. Its whole extent constitutes the parish of Bom Jesus do Monte
(Good Jesus of the Mount.) A considerable quantity of the timber and
branches of the mango tree is exported to the capital for firewood.
Angra dos Reys, the other bay alluded to, is much larger than that
of Rio, presenting less regularity, with three entrances open to the
south, formed by two islands, Ilha Grande and Marambaya, lying in
a parallel line with the coast. The western entrance, denominated
Cayrussu, is situated betwixt Ilha Grande and Joatinga Point, on
the continent. Bom-Abrigo (Good Shelter) was the name given by the
first discoverers to this point. The entrance is eight miles wide,
possessing thirty fathoms of depth. The central entrance is betwixt the
said island and that of Marambaya, from which latter it derives its
name. It is five miles wide, with little less depth than the first. The
eastern entrance, denominated the Bar of Guaratiba, is narrow and of
little depth. The rivers Guandu and Mambucaba are the principal amongst
a great many whose courses terminate in this bay, which can boast of
some excellent roadsteads. Ilha Grande is four leagues long, with a
proportionable width, having many high mountains covered with wild
and verdant woods, and numerous fountains of crystalline water, which
produce two abundant streams. This bay has various recesses, which are
so many secure anchorage places; the creeks of Abraham, Estrella, and
Palmas are the best. This island, which lends its name to the frontier
territory of the continent, has a fertile soil, and is partially
cultivated. In the year 1811, its population amounted to three thousand
souls, at which period the parish called St. Anna was created: a
central chapel, of the same name, serves it for a mother-church. In the
creek of Abraham there is a village, which, most probably, at a future
day, will become the capital of the island. The island of Marambaya is
high and rocky, and overspread with wood. The whole of its cultivation
and population arises alone from the establishment of two sugar works
upon it; and it possesses a hermitage of Our Lady of Griefs (_das
Dores_.) From this island, a narrow sand-bank stretches to the east
for six leagues, as far as the bar of Guaratiba, and is covered in the
greatest part with vegetation.
Over the bay of Angra dos Reys, a vast number of islands are scattered,
amongst which may be enumerated the Supituba, Cunhambyba Grande, Jorge,
Palmeira, Algodao, Barra, Caeyra, Redonda, Rafael, Cavaco, Pimenta,
and another, also called Jorge, which are each from about a mile to
two miles in length. The Gipoya, about six miles long, has some indigo
works and fisheries; the Bomfim, very small, has a hermitage of the
same name; the Tacoativa, Jacarahy, Paixao, Francisco Nunes, Barro,
Pedreiro, Bayacica, Cana, Porcos, Sappe, Boqueirao, Redonda, Buzios,
Casca, Brandao, Coco, Algodao, Ferreira, Cavaco, Jappam, Papagayos,
Cobras, Sandre, and St. Joam are all small. The majority of these
islands are partly cultivated and peopled.
CAPES.--Cape Frio is the only remarkable cape of the province.
That of St. Thomé is situated about twenty leagues north-north-east
from it. The principal projecting points are Negra Point, nine
leagues to the west of Cape Frio; Buzios Point, four leagues to the
north-north-east of the same cape; and Guaratiba Point, near the
bar of its name. The mother-church of the parish of St. Salvador is
beautifully situated upon a small eminence in front of the bar of
Guaratiba. Its district is twenty miles long, and fifteen wide. In
the year 1804, it contained four thousand three hundred and forty
inhabitants, dispersed over the parish, the vicar’s house being almost
the only one in the vicinity of the church.
ISLANDS.--The islands of this province are numerous, but
the greater part inconsiderable, and principally within the two bays
already described. Outside of the bar of Rio de Janeiro are the three
islands of Palmas; also the islands of Redonda, Comprida, Raza, Cagada,
Lage, Catunduda, Toacinho, Pay, and May; the whole of which are small,
uninhabited, and extremely barren, except in verdant shrubs and
brushwood.
MINERALOGY.--This province has some mines of gold, and possesses
veins of iron. The rocks of granite are very large and remarkable,
being of one solid piece, from whence entire obelisks might be hewn
of an immense size. Aqua-marinas are met with; and a variety of
different earths, some considered equal to that with which the Chinese
manufacture their porcelain.
ZOOLOGY.--In this province are found all the domestic and wild
animals belonging to the adjacent provinces, with a sort of Sahium
monkey, hairy, and of a gold colour. Amongst the birds are remarked
various sorts of the beautiful sahy, not met with northward.
PHYTOLOGY.--This province affords a variety of timber for
the purposes of building, cabinet-work, and dying. The tree called
here _anduassu_ is nearly fifteen feet high, and two in diameter,
grows rapidly, and only in the vicinity of the sea. The Indians make
an aperient medicine from its fruit, with which they cure the dropsy.
Oil is extracted from it for burning lights, and for the composition of
blue ink, and a blue dye. The _tatagyba_, which is the _morus
tinctoria_ of Linneus, affords an excellent yellow dye, extracted
by the boiling of its wood in water, with the addition of a portion
of alum. The _grumixameira_ is a tree which produces a most
excellent fruit, similar to a cherry in appearance, but of a finer
flavour. I brought some of its seed to England, but am yet uncertain
whether it will prosper in our climate. A small tree produces a clove,
said to be superior to that of the Moluccas. The camphor tree, the
cane of Madagascar, some African grasses, and a delicate species
from Hindostan, have been recently naturalized here. Canes of such
thickness and height grow upon the margins of the Suruhy, that ladders
are made of them to hang the highest temples with decorations for
festivals. In many situations ferns are met with, not differing in the
least from those of Europe, except in the immense quantities which
grow in uncultivated grounds. In the woods adjacent to Andrahi, near
the road leading to the cascades of Tejuco, there is one which has
grown, amongst other vegetation of wild trees and brushwood, to the
perpendicular height of eighteen feet. In some woods, a sort of almond
tree is met with, with fruit almost spherical, and of the magnitude
of a hen’s egg. Cocoa trees are not very abundant, owing to an insect
which gnaws the sprout after it grows to any size, and prevents their
arrival at the perfection they otherwise would. European horticulture
succeeds better here than in the northern provinces. The mango tree is
only abundant in the suburbs of the capital, and rarely fructifies to
perfection. Oranges grow spontaneously, and consist of various sorts;
the selectas, which are large, and the tangerinas, both of the most
delicious qualities. The coffee tree, having been naturalized here,
during the government of Conde de Bobadella, by the attention and
care of a magistrate, multiplies prodigiously, and is now one great
branch of the riches of this province. The cotton tree does not prosper
universally. Apple, pear, cherry, and apricot trees do not succeed. Fig
trees grow rapidly, and produce fruit in perfection; but they have an
enemy in a little insect, which introduces itself very frequently into
the pith, and dries it up. Amongst an infinity of other productions may
be enumerated jalap, ipecacuanha, called here _poaya_, trees of
gum, of _sangue de drago_, (blood of dragon,) of oil of capaiba,
and of Peruvian balsam. The cultivation of cochineal is now little
attended to.
CITIES AND TOWNS.--The cities and towns in this province
are remarkable for their small number and general insignificance,
considering its extent and capabilities. The same observation is
applicable to all the other provinces, and to some infinitely more so.
In this province may be reckoned two cities and twelve towns, having
no good roads or regular communication with each other by land, but
mere tracks and bridle-ways constituting an intricate and difficult
medium of intercourse. But we hail, with no common satisfaction, the
improvements that will necessarily succeed to the change that has taken
place in the system of government in the mother-country, and which has
already begun to operate a like change in the provinces of Brazil.
The deplorable want of roads, and all the other facilities of
husbandry, commerce, and enjoyment, is the natural consequence of the
state of penury and ignorance in which the inhabitants, generally, of
this region are involved, by a system that cannot too soon give way
to the more enlightened policy which appears to be dawning upon them.
This good work, as far as it has proceeded, redounds highly to the
honour of the Portuguese people; no sanguinary event having marked
their endeavours in the cause of freedom, thereby affording a most
satisfactory contrast to the bloody pages that blacken the revolution
of many other nations. May they soon regain their former dignity of
character.
The places we alluded to are,