ITAPICURU. 



267 



several beautiful islands, and is of sufficient ex- 

 tent to admit of considerable grandeur. The 

 width from St. Luiz to the opposite shore is be- 

 tween four and five leagues ; its length is much 

 greater ; towards the south end there are several 

 sand-banks, and the water is shallower. It re- 

 ceives here the waters of a river, along the 

 banks of which are situated several cattle -estates, 

 but the river Itapicuru, which runs into the 

 narrow channel between the main land and the 

 island, enjoys the greatest share of cultivation ; 

 its banks are extremely fertile, and upon them 

 have been established the principal plantations 





torn was of mud. About half way through the channel, the 

 tide from the bay of St. Joze and that from the bay of 

 St. Marcos meet. This takes place nearly but not quite 

 opposite to the mouth of the river Itapicuru. They were 

 two days in sailing from the anchorage ground at St. Joze to 

 the island of Taua, which is situated near to the S. W. corner 

 of the island of Maranham. Here the ship came to an 

 anchor in nine fathoms water, with a sandy bottom ; the 

 captain sent to St. Luiz for another pilot, as the man who 

 had brought them thus far was not acquainted with the re- 

 mainder of the navigation. The island of Taua is rocky, 

 and uninhabited, and is covered with palm-trees. The vil- 

 lage of St. Joze appeared to Captain Trivino to be of con- 

 siderable size, but, with the exception of two or three, the 

 houses were built of slight timber and of the leaves of dif- 

 ferent species of palm-trees. Its inhabitants were mostly 

 fishermen. He mentioned that he saw a shoemaker at work 

 there. Captain Trivino understood from his pilot that the 

 river Itapicuru is at its mouth 120 yards wide, and that its 

 depth is one fathom and a half. 



