VICTORIA. 



177 



This place stands at the south-west extremity of the island formed by the 

 narrow Maruype channel, which is here crossed by a wooden bridge. On the 

 mainland, are seen the remains of the old capital, Villa Velha, with its imposing 

 group of churches and convents. Farther east the entry of the estuary is indicated 

 by the isolated heights of Penha (4;30 feet), and Moreno (690 feet), the former 

 crowned by a church, the latter by a lighthouse. To the north, beyond the Frade 

 Leopardo peak rises the still loftier three-crested Mestre-Alvarez, contracted to 

 Mestialve (3,220 feet). According to Mouchez, this is a long extinct volcano, still 

 containing sulphur beds. Thanks to its great height and isolated position near 



Fig. 71.— Victoria. 



Scale 1 : 140,000, 



40"'20' 



West or ureenwich 



40't4-' 



to 16 

 Feet. 



Depths. 



16 to 32 



Feet. 



Sandbank, 



.S'2 Feet 

 and upwards. 



H Miles. 



the coast, Mestialve is one of the most striking landmarks on the whole of the 

 Brazilian seaboard. 



Since the completion o£ the harbour works, Victoria is accessible to large 

 vessels, the bar having from 16 to 20 feet even at low water. Its trade is rapidly 

 increasing, and thousands of immigrants are now landed at this port, which has 

 become entirely independent of Rio de Janeiro, in its relations with Europe. The 

 colonists already number about 30,000 — Germans, Poles, Swiss, Tyrolese, Portu- 

 guese, and especially Italians, who greatly outnumber all the rest. They settle 

 chiefly in the southern parts of the State, near Anchicta (formerly Benevente), 

 Alfredo Chavez, Itapemirim and CacJioeiro. 



Anchieta perpetuates the name of the Jesuit missionary, who had at one time 

 gathered together as many as 12,000 Indians from the surrounding forests.' Under 



