140 Miscellaneous. 



On the Minhocdo of the Goyanese. By M. Augustk de Saint- 



HlLAIRE*. 



Luiz Antonio da Silva e Souza, whose acquaintance I made during 

 my travels, and to whom we owe the most valuable researches on 

 the history and statistics of Goyaz, says, in speaking of the lake of 

 Padre Aranda, situated in this vast province t, that it is inhabited by 

 minhocoesj; then he adds that these monsters — it is thus he ex- 

 presses himself — dwell in the deepest parts of the lake, and have often 

 drawn horses and horned cattle under the water §. The industrious 

 Pizarro, who is so well acquainted with all that relates to Brazil, 

 mentions nearly the same thing, and points out the lake Feia, which 

 is likewise situated in Goyaz, as also being inhabited by minhocoes || . 



I had already heard of these animals several times, and I con- 

 sidered them as fabulous, when the disappearance of horses, mules 

 and cattle, in fording the rivers, was certified by so many persons, 

 that it became impossible for me to doubt it altogether. 



When I was at the Rio dos Piloes, I also heard much of the min- 

 hocoes ; I was told that there were some in this river, and that at 

 the period when the waters had risen, they had often dragged in 

 horses and mules whilst swimming across the river. 



The word minhocdo is an augmentative of minhoca, which in Por- 

 tuguese signifies earth-worm ; and indeed they state that the monster 

 in question absolutely resembles these worms, with this difference, 

 that it has a visible mouth ; they also add, that it is black, short, and 

 of enormous size ; that it does not rise to the surface of the water, but 

 that it causes animals to disappear by seizing them by the belly. 



When, about twenty days after, having left the village and the 

 river of Piloes, I was staying with the Governor of Meiapont, M. 

 Joaquim Alvez de Oliveira, I asked him about these minhocoes : he 

 confirmed what I had already been told, mentioned several recent 

 accidents caused by these animals, and assured me at the same time, 

 from the report of several fishermen, that the minhocao, notwith- 

 standing its very round form, was a true fish provided with fins. 



I at first thought that the minhocao might be the Gymnotus Ca- 

 rapa, v^^hich according to Pohl^ is found in the Rio Vermelho, which 

 is near to the Rio dos Piloes ; but it appears from the Austrian writer 

 that this species of fish bears the name of Terma termi in the coun- 

 try ; and moreover the efi'ects produced by the Gymnoti are, accord- 

 ing to Pohl, well-known to the mulattos and negroes who often felt 

 them, and have nothing in common with what is related of the min- 

 hocao. Professor Gervais, to whom I mentioned my doubts, directed 

 my attention to the description which P. L. BischofF has given of the 



♦ This notice is taken from an unpublished work on the province of 

 Goyaz. 



f The province of Goyaz stretches from nearly 5" 22' lat. south to the 

 22nd degree, and is greater than France. 



I Plural of minhocao. 



§ See Memoria sobre o descobrimente, etc. da capitania de Goyaz in the 

 'Eatriota,' 1814. 



II Memorias Historicas, etc., vol. ix. p. 332. 

 ^ Reise, vol. i. p. 360. 



