160 



AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



at its mouth, becomes a navigable stream ; but its mouth is blocked by an ex- 

 tremely dangerous bar with only six or seven feet of water at flow. 



A more natural highway to the mining districts of the interior is presented by 

 the valley of the Rio Doce, which receives its farthest headwaters from the 

 eastern sIo^Des of the Espinhaço Ilange. But the dense forests, rugged mountains, 

 fluvial gorges and cataracts, and till recently the neighbouring independent Indian 

 tribes, have hitherto prevented this route from being utilised. The river scarcely 

 deserves its title oi Doce, or "Mild," until it has escaped from the State of Minas 

 Geraes, through a series of terraced falls and rapids. On the low-lyino- plains, 

 where it becomes navigable, both banks are lined with lakes and swamps, which 



Fig. G2.— LowEE CouESE of the Rio Doce. 

 Scale 1 : 1,600,000. 



Depths. 



0to5 

 Fathoms. 



5 Fathoms 

 aud upwards. 



30 Jliles. 



receive the overflow of the flood waters. At this period its level is higher than 

 that of the surrounding plains, M'hich have scarcely yet been reclaimed from the 

 ocean. The Rio do Norte, one of the lateral creeks in this half-submero^ed 

 region, flows parallel with the coast for over 70 miles northwards in the direction 

 of the Rio Mucury. The bar of the Rio Doce has at least 10 feet at ebb, and over 

 14 at high water.* 



* Chief coaststreams between the Rio S. Francisco and the Parnahyba, according to Chichko : — 



Itapicuru .... 

 Paraguassu .... 

 Contas. .... 



J?qiiitinhonha with the Pardo 

 Doce ..... 



Length in 

 EDglish miles. 

 320 

 300 

 310 

 500 

 435 



Drainage Area 

 in square miles. 



15,000 



18,000 



2'2,000 



42,000 



37.000 



