Porto Real
Natividade
Conceiçao
Arrayas
St. Feliz
Cavalcante
Flores
Trahyras.
The above division of the province points out the jurisdiction of each
comarca, but does not assist to form a correct idea of the country, in
consequence of the great inequality which prevails in their extent and
population; for instance, the julgado of the capital is upwards of five
hundred miles long from north to south, and of proportionable width,
and the julgado of Conceiçao extends east and west from one boundary of
the province to the other; whilst that of Pilar is not more than one
hundred miles long, and those of Desemboque and Araxa are much smaller.
It will be therefore preferable, in the delineation of this province,
to follow nature, which has divided it into six cantos, not varying
essentially in extent, and marked by visible boundaries. A line drawn
from the mouth of the Parannahiba by its bed to the confluence of the
river Annicuns, by this upwards, then by the river Boys to its origin,
crossing to that of the river Pedras, by it down to the Almas, which
continues it to the Maranham and Tucantines, divides the province into
two parts, eastern and western, which latter is the larger portion,
each of which is subdivided into three grand districts; namely,--
Cayaponia }
Goyaz } in the western portion.
Nova Beira }
Tucantines }
Parannan } in the eastern.
Rio das Velhas }
_District of_ CAYAPONIA.
Cayaponia derives its name from the _Cayapo_ nation, who have
occupied it from time immemorial.
It is bounded on the north by the district of Goyaz; on the west by
Bororonia, from which it is separated by the river Araguaya; on the
south by Camapuania, from which it is divided by the river Pardo; and
on the east by the rivers Paranna, Parannahiba, and Annicuns, which
separate it, the first from the province of St. Paulo, the others from
the district of Rio das Velhas. The northern limit is distinctly marked
by a range of mountains, running in the same parallel of latitude as
the lake of Pasmados, situated near the river of its name, in 17° 20′.
It is upwards of two hundred and fifty miles in length from north to
south, and one hundred and seventy at its medium width.
It is the least known amongst the districts of this province, not yet
possessing a single Christianized establishment. The Cayapos, divided
into various tribes, under whose dominion it hitherto remains, have
from time to time made destructive sallies upon the caravans of Cuiaba,
and invaded the northern part of the province of St. Paulo, where they
have occasioned the flight of many colonies. They wander about almost
in a state of nudity. Besides the bow and arrow, arms common to all the
other Indian nations, they use also a club about one yard in length, of
choice wood, round at the end which they lay hold of, and flat in the
form of an oar at the other, the whole ornamented or dressed with the
barks of shrubs of various colours, and woven in imitation of a mat.
A blow from this weapon is fatal. Honey, fish, wild fruits, and game
are their aliment. Their principal dwelling places are in the vicinity
of the river Cururuhy, and not far removed from the cataract of Urubu
Punga, whither they are in the habit of proceeding in large parties,
for the purpose of fishing. There are times that the Portuguese do
not experience any hostility from these Indians, and amongst other
instances, one occurred in the year 1810, when Dr. Joam Ferreyra,
treasurer-mor of the cathedral of St. Paulo, in order to gratify his
curiosity, proceeded to visit and examine this famous cataract, where
he arrived at the same time that a tribe of Cayapos appeared there, who
conducted themselves as ancient allies, and with every appearance of
friendship; they received graciously the presents which the traveller
liberally offered to them, and allowed various persons of both sexes
and different ages to remain in his company.
The ancient certanistas met with various rivers in the interior of
this district, flowing southward, and their diaries enumerate, amongst
others, the Perdiçao, which is nearest to the Annicuns, and most
probably one of its tributaries; the Turvo, the Doirados, the Gallera,
and the Pasmados, which is the most westerly, receives some of the
preceding, and falls into the Parannan, near the cascade of Urubu
Punga, under the name of Cururuhy. They also mention the Appary, which
discharges itself into the said Parannan, many leagues above the fall,
and two Cayapos, both tributaries like the preceding river, and little
distant, one to the south and the other to the north of it.
The Sucuriu is considerable, disembogues a little below the Tiete, and
is navigable nearly to its origin, which is north of Camapuan, upon the
border of Bororonia. A certanista proceeded by it with his canoes to
the Piquery, which conducted them to the river St. Lourenço.
The river Verde, which is also considerable, and of crystalline and
excellent water, affords navigation to the interior of a peninsula,
formed by the preceding river and the Pardo, the southern limit of
the province, with the Parannan, which receives them. The water of
this river, before being drawn from its bed, resembles green ink. Its
margins abound with most beautiful woods, consisting of the finest
timber.
_District of_ GOYAZ.
This district, which is larger than the preceding one, and is bounded
by it on the south, has on the west the same limits as the province; on
the east the districts of Rio das Velhas and Parannan; and on the north
the district of Nova Beira, from which it is separated in part by the
Estrondo serra and the river Tabocas.
The nation from which the province borrowed its name was not the only
one that ruled here; to the north of it there lived a tribe called
_Crixas_, whose name was given to the river that traverses their
territory.
Amongst other mountains, generally of moderate elevation, may be
enumerated the serra Doirada, not far distant from the capital, to the
southward, which extends itself for a considerable space to the west.
The serra Escalvada, lying further to the south, and running in the
same direction as the preceding one; the serra Santa Martha, to the
south-west of the last; and the Sentinilla, which prolongs itself for a
great distance with the river Claro.
The said river Claro, the Vermelho, the Tizoiras, and the Crixa, are
the principal streams of this district. The second is small on passing
the capital, but soon afterwards becomes more considerable by the
addition of various small rivers, which render it navigable. Amongst
those which join it by the left margin are the Indios, the Tacoaral,
the Tigres, and the Cachoeira, all issuing from the Doirada serra. The
Bugres is the first abundant stream which unites itself with it by the
right bank, and the Ferreiro the second. The Peixe is an arm of the
Tizoiras, and navigable.
In the northern part of the district is to be noted the river Caldas,
which is of short extent; it issues from a lake of the same name, and
discharges itself into the Maranham, fifty miles above the Paratininga.
The Santa Thereza, and the Cannabrava, enter the Tucantines by one
common embouchure, under the name of the first, which is the most
voluminous.
The principal povoaçoes are, Villa Boa, Crixa, and Pilar.
Villa Boa, at its commencement denominated the arraial of St. Anna,
was raised into a town in the year 1739, and is large, populous, and
flourishing. It is the residence of the governor, at present Senhor
Fernando Delgado, of the prelate, who is a bishop _in partibus_,
and also of the ouvidor of the comarca, who fills other situations as
well as that of crown judge. The senate is presided by a Juiz de Fora,
who besides holds the appointment of attorney-general.
This town occupies a flat situation upon the margins of the Vermelho,
which divides it into two unequal portions, communicating by three
bridges. It is in the centre of the Brazil. Its edifices are neither
large, elegant, nor substantial: the principal are the mother church,
dedicated to St. Anna, five chapels to the Lady of Boa Morte, Rozario,
Carmo, Abbadia, and Lapa; another of St. Francisco; the palace of the
governor; the Caza da Camara, (or town house); the Caza da Contadoria,
(exchequer); and the Caza da Fundicao do Oiro, (smelting house.) It
has a fort, with two pieces of artillery to fire salutations upon
occasions of solemnities, a fountain, and a public walk. The heat is
intense during the dry season; night breezes, however, are usual, and
exceedingly grateful.
This town has a tribunal which decides upon the affairs of the
province, denominated the Junta de Real Fazenda, a council consisting
of five deputies, including the governor, who is the president, the
judge, the attorney-general, a treasurer, and an escrivao. It is
situated in 16° 20′ of southern latitude.
The municipal body of this town, whose revenue amounts to one thousand
oitavas of gold, are said to have a _sesmaria_ of land, in a
circle around the town of five leagues in diameter.
Half a mile distant from the town, there is a hermitage of St. Barbara.
Five leagues to the north-west of it is situated the small arraial of
Barra, with a hermitage of the Lady of Rozario, at the embouchure of
the Bugres. Its territory is auriferous.
Eight leagues in the same direction as the preceding is the arraial
of Anta and parish of Bom Jesus, with two chapels of the Lady of
Rozario and Boa Morte, situated between two small streams, which unite
themselves previously to entering the Vermelho, and was founded in
the year 1729. The gold which caused its origin is not yet exhausted;
but, whether from indolence or any other cause, no one is at present
occupied in its extraction.
Ten miles to the north of the latter place, near the river Peixe, in a
plain, is the arraial of St. Rita, ornamented with a hermitage of the
same name. It is actually the port of navigation from the capital to
the city of Para. The river discharges itself into the Tizoiras by the
left margin, and is only navigable during the rainy season.
Thirty-five miles to the north of the arraial of St. Rita, near the
river Tizoiras, was founded, in the year 1755, the arraial of the
same name, which was the parish of St. Miguel, and flourished whilst
cultivation was profitable; but with the apparent exhaustion of gold
it began to decay, and from the sterility of the land, and the want of
water, it was ultimately forsaken. Cattle are, however, now bred in
its district. A species of bird, which the discoverers of the country
called _tizoiras_, (or scissors,) in consequence of having a tail
similar to a pair of opened scissors, was the origin of its name.
Ninety miles to the north of the capital is the considerable arraial
and parish of Crixa, the head of the julgado of that name, which was
founded in the year 1734, near a small river, and about ten miles
distant from the left margin of the river that affords it the name.
Its church has for a titular saint the Lady of Conceiçao. There is
also a chapel of St. Efigenia, two of Nossa Senhora of Rozario and
Abbadia. The population forms four companies of militia, one of which
is cavalry, and another free blacks.
Thirty-five miles to the east-north-east of Crixa, near a small river
which runs into the Almas, is the large, flourishing, and well situated
arraial and parish of Pilar, head of the julgado, founded in 1741, with
the name of Pappuan, a herb abundant in this part. It is ornamented by
a church, whose titular saint affords its name to the establishment,
a chapel of St. Gonçalo, two of the Lady of Rozario and Merces, a
fountain, and good streets. The environs are mountainous. In front
of it there is a morro, which, it is calculated, has afforded more
than one hundred arrobas (thirty-two pounds each) of gold, and from
whence a much greater quantity might be extracted with water and proper
management. There is a curious operation of nature in its vicinity,
near the road of Carretao, representing human visages. It is worthy of
notice.
Twenty miles to the east of Pilar is situated the aldeia of Lavrinhas,
near the source of a small stream, which, after a course of ten miles,
enters the river Almas.
Ten miles to the south-west of Pilar, near the river Moquem, a branch
of the Crixa, is the arraial of Gorinos, with a hermitage. It was fully
inhabited whilst its mines of gold were productive.
Three miles to the east of Villa Boa is situated the arraial of
Ferreiro, (Blacksmith) with a chapel of St. Joam Baptista. It is the
most ancient establishment of the province. It derived its name from a
blacksmith, who remained there exercising his trade, after the miners
had deserted it, for the purpose of mining in other places. About eight
miles to the east of the preceding place, near a small river, a branch
of the river Uruhu, is the considerable arraial of Oiro Fino, (Fine
Gold) which took this name from the superior quality of that metal
found here. It has a chapel dedicated to the Lady of Pilar.
Eighteen miles to the south-west of the capital is the arraial and
parish of St. Joze de Mossamedes, founded in the year 1774, for the
habitation of a numerous colony of Indians, consisting of three
different nations, the _Carajas_ and _Javahes_, brought from
the district of Nova Beira, and the _Accroas_, who lived to the
east of the serra Parannan, in the territory where the Correntes has
its heads.
Twenty-eight miles to the south-west of St. Joze, and forty-five from
the capital, is situated Aldeia Maria, near the margin of the river
Fartura, in a plain constantly refreshed by breezes. It was founded in
1781, for the establishment of almost three hundred Cayapo Indians, who
were augmented in the following year by more than two hundred of the
same nation, invited thither by the report of the good treatment which
their comrades experienced. Afterwards came various _mallocas_,
or parties, amongst whom arrived some _caciques_, or captains,
one of whom had hair resembling that of a mulatto. One cripple and
some blind, amongst so many, prove that this nation are not greatly
subjected to natural bodily defects. At the beginning they showed
themselves grateful for the benefits conferred upon them, faithful to
their promises, and without any remarkable propensity to thieving:
some learned trades the most wanted in the colony. The women, after a
short time, learned to spin, weave, and sew. This establishment, which
was expected to have become flourishing by this time, is considerably
fallen off, in consequence, it is said, of the repugnancy of the whites
to ally themselves with the Indians.
Within this district is the new arraial of Annicuns, situated near the
right margin of the Boys, which here has only the appearance of a small
stream. It is forty miles to the south-east of the capital, and has a
church dedicated to St. Francisco d’Assis. Its inhabitants are miners
and agriculturists. The first have formed a company for mining. The
land is appropriated to various productions.
_District of_ NOVA BEIRA.
The district of Nova Beira is to the north of that of Goyaz, and
extends northward, between the rivers Araguaya and Tucantines, to its
termination at the angle of their confluence. It is upwards of four
hundred miles in length from north to south, and one hundred and thirty
in width. The island of St. Anna belongs to it.
Almost the whole yet belongs to various savage nations. The _Chavante_
tribe, which appears to be the most numerous, possesses the major
part towards the north. Their neighbours are the _Pochetis_, the
_Noroguages_, the _Appynages_, the _Carajas_, the _Cortys_, and the
_Xerentes_. The Chavante Indians after being established, and many
baptized, in the aldeia of Pedro Terceiro, (in the situation of
Carretao, district of Pilar,) built expressly for them, in consequence
of the vassalage which they voluntarily offered, deserted all at one
time, and returned to their natural mode of life. They are at present
the most formidable enemies of the Portuguese.
The river Crixa, (the northern,) the St. Antonio, and the Taboca,
are the most considerable amongst those which enter the Tucantines.
The large river Chavante, formed by many others which irrigate the
territory of the tribe from whom it takes the name, flows into the
Araguaya a little above the re-union of its two arms which form the
island of St. Anna.
The povoaçoes are Pontal and Matanca.
Four hundred miles to the north of Villa Boa, and nearly fifteen from
the margin of the Tucantines, is situated the arraial of Pontal, so
called in consequence of a point or elbow which the river forms in its
vicinity. It was founded in 1738, and has a parochial church dedicated
to Senhor Bom Jesus, of Boa Morte. Its inhabitants breed cattle, and
cultivate mandioca, Indian corn, legumes, and some cotton. All the
different species of fruit are known here.
The width of the Tucantines, at the passage from this arraial to
that of Carmo, which is distant thirty-five miles to the east, is
three hundred and seventy-four fathoms at the period of its greatest
diminution, and more than five hundred when its bed is full. Porto Real
is the name of this passage.
The aldeia of Mantanca is ten miles to the north of Pontal, near
the origin of a small river, which after a course of twelve miles
enters the Tucantines. It is yet insignificant, in consequence of the
invasions of the Indians, but it abounds with fish, game, and fruits.
The salubrity of the climate, the fertility of the soil, the abundance
of water, the extensive neighbouring woods, and the gold which is
known to exist in the district, ought long ago to have produced an
accumulating population, a great augmentation of the existing villages,
and many other improvements; in which case its inhabitants would, ere
this, have reduced or put to flight the hostile Indians, and, besides,
would have been carrying on a great commercial intercourse with the
merchants of Gram Para. None of the comarcas of this province hold so
advantageous a situation for commerce.
In the angle of the confluence of the Araguaya with the Tucantines,
there is a prezidìo, or military detachment, to register the canoes
which navigate by both rivers to the city of Para. This is the place
where the before-mentioned decree of 1809 ordered the town of St. Joam
das Duas Barras to be founded, for the head of the comarca of that
name. It is said, however, that this project, so well conceived, was
not effected, in consequence of the reefs with which this situation is
encompassed, and which impeded the access of canoes. This probably was
the reason of two places being founded, one upon each river, higher up.
In the year 1775 were reduced the two savage nations of _Carajas_
and _Javahes_, who possessed the island of St. Anna, or Bannanal.
The first were established in six aldeias, and the other in three,
nearly the whole with names of places in Portugal; namely, Angeja
and Seabra, both for the Carajas, near the southern extremity of the
island; the first near the eastern arm, and the other near the western;
Cunha, for the Javahes, thirty-five miles to the north of Angeja, and
some distance from the river; Annadia, for the Carajas, twenty-eight
miles to the north of Seabra, and near the river; St. Pedro, for the
same, and eighteen miles to the north-east of Cunha, near the margin of
the river; Ponte de Lima, for the Javahes, in the centre of the island;
Lavradio, fifty miles to the north of Annadia; Lamacaes, forty to the
north; both for the Carajas, in the vicinity of the river; and Mello,
for the Javahes, some distance from the eastern arm. At this period
the name of Nova Beira was given to the neighbouring territory.
_District of_ TUCANTINES.
It is the most northern of the eastern districts, and borrows its name
from the river which bounds it on the west, separating it from Nova
Beira. On the east it is bounded by the cordillera which constitutes
the limit between this province and that of Pernambuco. The two rivers
of Manuel Alvez did bound it, one on the north, and the other on the
south; but, as it has increased towards the north, the limit on that
side is not at present quite determinable. This district is computed
to be two hundred and eighty miles long from north to south, and one
hundred and forty of medium width.
The two rivers Manuel Alvez and Somno are the principal of those which
water this comarca. The latter, it is said, rises in the serra of
Figuras, a continuation of the cordillera before alluded to, from whose
sides others issue that augment its waters at the commencement. All
three are navigable, and afford the same fish as the Tucantines.
It is a country mountainous in great part, and yet occupied at its
northern extremity by various barbarous nations, who follow hunting,
damage the farms of cattle breeders, and advance occasionally in
squadrons of canoes by the rivers that approximate to the Portuguese
establishments. They are of the _Xerente_, _Chavante_, and _Tapacoa_
tribes. Woods exist almost only upon the margins of the rivers,
the principal portion consisting of sandy sterile lands, in part
appropriated for breeding cattle. Calcareous stone abounds in some
places. Gold gave origin to its establishments, and, while obtained
without much ingenuity and labour, rendered many persons rich.
The principal povoaçoes are, Natividade, Chapada, and Carmo.
Six miles distant from the right margin of the southern river of Manuel
Alvez, and little less than thirty-five from the Tucantines, in the
proximity of the morro of Olhos d’Agua, (so called from various rills
thence emanating,) where there is gold, and near the small river St.
Antonio, is the arraial of Natividade. It is the head of the julgado,
with the condition of a town, and the residence at present of the
ouvidor of the comarca. It was founded in 1739, and has a church, where
the festival of the Nativity of our Lord is held with much solemnity.
It has also two chapels dedicated to Rozario and Terco, and another
of St. Benedicto. The culture of the cane, the cotton tree, tobacco,
Indian corn, mandioca, and legumes, occupy the greater part of the
population. Miners are few; as the produce (from not adopting a new
mode) of the mines affords them no encouragement. Cattle are bred.
Oranges and citrons are excellent.
Near seven miles to the north of Natividade is the small and agreeably
situated arraial of Chapada, with a chapel of St. Anna. The people who
inhabit it cultivate the same productions as those of the former place,
and are miners.
Fifty miles to the north-north-west of the preceding, and twenty from
the Tucantines, at the angle of the confluence of the small river
Sucuriu and the Matança, is the pleasant arraial of Carmo. It was
founded in 1741, in the proximity of a serra, ornamented with a mother
church dedicated to St. Manuel, and a chapel of the Lady of Rozario.
The houses are built of _adobe_, a sort of brick dried in the sun.
Its inhabitants drink the waters of the Sucuriu, which are excellent.
They are miners and agriculturists, and cultivate Indian corn, tobacco,
cotton, sugar, mandioca, and legumes, with various hortulans and fruits.
Seventy miles to the east of Natividade is the arraial of Almas, a
little distance from the river Manuel Alvez and near the road of Duro.
Its inhabitants cultivate the necessaries of life and cotton.
Forty miles to the east of the preceding, is the aldeia of Duro, upon
the boundary of the province, with a register for preventing the
embezzlement of gold. The major part of its dwellers are Christianized
Indians, poor and content with their condition, cultivating and
collecting only what is absolutely necessary to preserve life.
A few leagues to the north of the aldeia of Duro is that of Formiga,
also peopled with Christianized Indians, who are equally indolent, are
hunters, and more contented with gathering fruits from the wild trees,
than planting others of greater utility.
Between the mouth of the northern river Manuel Alvez and the first
peninsula, is the new arraial of St. Pedro d’Alcantara, upon the margin
of the Tucantines.
_District of_ PARANNAN.
This district derives its name from the river which traverses it
diagonally. It is bounded on the north by the comarca of Tucantines,
on the west by that of Goyaz, on the south by the Rio das Velhas, and
on the east by the limits of the province. It is watered by a great
number of rivers, interspersed with mountains, and better peopled
than the others, although still infested by the barbarians, who
advance up the principal rivers. In some districts there are many
persons subject from their infancy to a disease in the throat, called
_bronchocele_.
RIVERS.--Besides the Parannan and the Maranham, its western
and southern limits, we may remark the river Trahiras of the south, the
Preto, (both crossed by bridges), the Bagagem, the small Tucantines,
the Palma, the St. Feliz, (with a large bridge,) the Trahiras of the
north, and the small river Custodio, both of difficult passage even
in dry weather; the Gamelleiro, near whose mouth there is a rock of
remarkable form and height, and the Bacalhau of considerable width. The
whole discharge into the Maranham, except the last, which unites itself
with the Bagagem by the left margin, and the Palma which joins the
Parannan.
The river Palma is formed by the Palmeiro, Mosquito, and Sobrado. The
latter, which is the most northerly, rises in a plain upon the summit
of the wide serra of Mangabeira, and a few fathoms it is said, from the
origin of the river Ondas, (which runs to the St. Francisco) and seven
miles below its source receives the Torno, a considerable stream which
issues from among the roots of an over-spreading _gamelleira_ or
_gamella_ tree, and has not a mile of course, being as voluminous
at the commencement as at the embouchure.
The river Correntes, which is one of the first branches of the
Parannan, flows from the serra of St. Domingos, and after some leagues
conceals itself for three miles by a subterraneous passage through a
mountain, where its waters lose their colour and good quality. The
river Galheiro, which descends from the serra St. Domingos to the
Parannan, receives a small river, (called the St. Domingos) which runs
for a considerable space under ground, being only discoverable in
some places through apertures. Amongst other serras may be noted the
Viadeiros, which runs parallel with the river Parannan at the distance
of eighteen miles. It is bare of vegetation or woods, and is the most
elevated of the central ones. From it issues the river Tucantines and
the Preto.