CHAPTER XI. 



PARANA SLOPE AND ADJACENT COASTLANDS. 



States of S. Paulo, Parana, akd Santa Catharina. 



HE geographical region draining south-westwards to the Parana 

 presents a remarkable degree of physical uniformity, although 

 divided into several political administrations, and although the 

 zone of the waterparting is unequally distributed between Minas 

 Geraes, Goyaz, and Matto Grosso. The whole territory is the 

 fragment of a plateau disposed in a vast curve between the two parallel lines of 

 the Atlantic coast and the course of the Parana. Northwards it is limited by the 

 Pio Grande, a main branch of the Upper Parana, and towards the south by the 

 upper valley of the Pio Uruguay. 



At the south-west corner, in the narrow tract comprised between the converg- 

 ing Parana and Uruguay rivers, the boundary towards Argentina has not yet been 

 determined. But colonisation has scarcely yet been extended to this region, and 

 even in S. Paulo, by far the most populous of the three States, there still exist 

 " unknown lands " of gi-eat extent disposed in parallel strips by the Upper Parana 

 affluents. 



From the reports of pioneers and adventurers these lands are known to be to 

 a large extent fertile. They seem destined some day to be the home of teeming 

 populations, and their settlement has already been commenced. Every year, 

 every day almost, sees fresh tracts reclaimed from the wilderness. 



The Paoijstas. 



Amongst all the populations of Brazil, those of S. Paulo are distinguished by 



their enterprising spirit, so much so that in some respects this region might be 



regarded as the true centre of Portuguese America. Soon after the discovery the 



daring pioneer, Joào Ramalho, in friendly alliance with the Indians, had estab- 



