204 



zoiias, and is distant 350-3G0 miles nearly directly west of the city 

 of Belem or Para. 



On the maps, the Curupatuba is usually represented as a large 

 river, taking its rise in the highlands of Guiana, to the north-west- 

 ward of Monte- Alegre, and which, shortly before entering the Ama- 

 zonas, receives by a short outlet the waters of a large lake. Accord- 

 ing to Sr. Ferreira Penna* this is inexact. The river that descends 

 from the interior is called the Maecurii f (or Maycurii) and it empties 

 directly into the lake. This river has never been explored and noth- 

 ing is known of its upper course. The lower part is bordered by 

 rich grazing grounds and is inhabited. The lake, commonly known 

 as the Lago Grande de Monte-Alegre and celebrated for its fishery of 

 the 2^irarucu (Sudis grandis) is situated in the alluvial bottom 

 about midway between Monte-Alegre and Santarem, and to the 

 south-west of the former villa. Sr. Penna says that it is about 

 twenty-five miles long, and from three to five in width. It is most 

 probably an old channel of the Amazonas, The same author states 

 that the lake emjoties by two channels which soon unite in one 

 called the Cururuliy'.X This presently receives on the left the 

 Igarape-apara,§ when the stream takes the name Curupatuba. The 

 course of the latter is at first north or north-east, but, just before 

 reaching the villa of Monte-Alegre, it makes a bend to the east, and, 

 hugging the higher lands on the northern side of the valley, emp- 

 ties into the Amazonas, a few miles east of Monte-Alegre, just below 

 which town, it communicates with the main river by a navigable 

 parand-mer'im. \\ It is interesting to observe that the Amazonas 

 runs obliquely across the valley, in a north-easterly direction, from 

 the highlands, a few miles east of Santarem, to those of Monte- 

 Alegre, leaving a very broad strip of alluvial campos on the north- 

 ern side, which narrows towards the east, running out near the 



then corresponds to Rio de Monte-Alegre, which one sometimes hears used. On some maps we 

 find the spelling, Gurupatuba. Gurupa, the name of a little town a few hours east of the 

 mouth of the Xingu, is a corruption of Kurupd. 



* A Regiao occidental da Prov. do Para, p. 125. 



tFrom the reports of the vaqueiros and some fragments of a fine shai-p sandstone I have 

 seen, I am led to believe that the geology of the river would prove interesting. 



t Toad river, from Kururii, a toad, and y'ff, water or ri\er. 



I Apara means crooked. 



1 More properly a furo or cross-cut. 



