Villa da Victoria
Villa Velha
Benevente
Almeyda
Guarapary
Itapemirim.
The villa or town of Nossa Senhora of Victoria, the capital of the
province, is situated on an amphitheatrical site on the western side
of an island, fifteen miles in circumference, in the bay of Espirito
Santo, which is capable of receiving frigates, and its entrance is
defended by five small forts. The town is well provided with water, has
tolerable houses, paved streets, and a church, which when complete will
be handsome. There is a house of misericordia, convents of Franciscans
and slippered Carmelites, two Terceira orders belonging to those
corporations, a chapel of St. Luzia, three of Nossa Senhora of Boa
Morte, Conceiçao, and Rozario. The ex-Jesuitical college is a fine
edifice, and now serves for the palace of the governors. The ouvidor
of the comarca has his ordinary residence here. It has also a royal
professor of Latin, and a junta da real fazenda, or the treasury. The
island is elevated, and the greatest part in a state of cultivation.
Its eastern side lies in a direct line with the coast of the continent.
At the entrance of the bar, near the before-mentioned Moreno Mount,
is another, also a land-mark to sailors, and is in the form of a
sugar-loaf. On its summit is a convent of Franciscans, dedicated to
Nossa Senhora da Penha, of which it takes the name, not unfrequently
sustaining damage by the winds. The inhabitants of this sanctuary
enjoy delightful prospects of the vast ocean, and the varied scenery
of mountains of a diversity of elevation and aspect, with valleys of
different width and profundity.
In the skirts of this mount, at the entrance of the bay, is Villa
Velha, (Old Town,) originally the town of Espirito Santo, and for
some time capital of the capitania, which, however, never became
considerable, and is now of little consequence. Our Lady of Rozario is
the patroness of the church, whose parishioners are fishermen. Fish are
abundant and cheap upon all this part of the coast.
Benevente is at present a small town; but it unquestionably enjoys an
advantageous situation for becoming more considerable, at the mouth
of the river which takes its name, having a commodious anchorage
place, and great fertility of surrounding soil. The inhabitants are
mostly Indians, for whose reception it first began. The Jesuits, its
founders, had a hospicio, or entertaining house here, which is now
divided into three portions; one is the residence of the vicar, another
is appropriated to the municipal house, and the third for the use of
the ouvidor. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Assumpçao. In the
adjacencies of the river, cotton, sugar, rice, Indian corn, &c. are
cultivated. The canoes which convey those productions to the port can
advance up the river with the tide for a considerable distance.
Guarapary is a villota, or small place, situated near the embouchure of
the river Guarapary, upon a small bay. The church is dedicated to Nossa
Senhora da Conceiçao. Its inhabitants, principally Indians, cultivate
cotton and the necessaries of life. Here is collected the greatest
portion of the Peruvian balsam, which takes the name of the province.
Almeyda, situated on elevated ground, near the embouchure of the Reys
Magos, from whence a great extent of ocean is discovered, was founded
by the Jesuits, who had a hospicio here, whither they repaired from the
college of the capital to learn the Tupininquin language. This edifice
has been for a long time the residence of the vicars, and its handsome
chapel, dedicated to Reys Magos, has always served for the mother
church. It has a considerable piece of ground attached to it, in the
form of a square. In no other parish of the bishopric have the number
of native Indians increased so much as here; with them are intermixed
some whites and mesticos. The whole pursue fishing, and are farmers of
the first necessaries. They export some earthenware and timber.
Five miles to the north of Almeyda is the Aldeia Velha, (the Old
Aldeia,) inhabited by Christianized Indians. It has commodious
anchorage for sumacas at the mouth of a small river.
Further on there is another aldeia of Goytacaze Indians, also
Christians. The whole cultivate the necessaries of life, practise
fishing, and many pursue the manufacture of earthenware. Orange trees
are remarkably abundant, and the fruit excellent. A considerable
quantity of gamellas (wooden bowls) are exported.
Itapemirim stands on the southern margin, and two miles above the mouth
of the river of the same name. It has a parish church of Our Lady of
Amparo. A considerable augmentation of this place is anticipated. Its
inhabitants drink the waters of the river, cultivate plantations of the
sugar cane, and the cotton tree, rice, Indian corn, &c. and cut timber;
all these are articles of exportation.
On the margin of the river Piuma there is an aldeia of the same name,
whose inhabitants cultivate the necessaries of life peculiar to the
country, and cut much timber from the neighbouring woods. Vessels of a
small size can be constructed here.
On the margin of the river Doce, two miles below the mouth of the
Mandu, there is a prezidio, with the name of Souza, in order to impede
the smuggling of gold from Minas Geraes, and which may become in time a
considerable povoaçao. The surrounding territory is highly fertile. One
quart of the seed of feijao will generally produce ninety Winchester
bushels; and lower down, upon an island in the same river, the same
quantity of seed has rendered one hundred and fifteen Winchester
bushels, which is nearly four hundred for one. A quart of Indian corn
commonly produces one hundred and fifteen bushels. A shrub grows here,
the bruised leaves of which afford a liquor by infusion, which will dye
a fast purple colour.
Near the river Jecu, at a great distance above its mouth, in a fertile
district, is beginning to flourish the arraial of the same name,
inhabited by white agriculturists, and abounding with game.
In the latitude of 20°, and upwards of five hundred miles distant from
the coast of this province, is the small and rocky island of Ascension,
also called Trinidade. It has good water; but having no good anchorage
place, and little of its surface being susceptible of cultivation, it
is uninhabited.