28 



FROM THE FIRST DISCOVERY TO THE 



The Brazil is of such prodigious extent, that it will be impossible for it to 

 arrive even at a medium state of perfection under the dominion of one govern- 

 ment. Its prominent boundaries, now that Monte Video is in the possession of 

 the Portuguese, may be geographically considered the river Amazons and the 

 Atlantic on the north ; the river Plate on the south ; the ocean on the whole of 

 its prolonged range of eastern coast ; and the great rivers Madeira, &c. running 

 north; the Paraguay and Uruguay stretching south to the river Plate, on the 

 west ; although the two provinces of Solimoes and Guianna, north of the Ama- 

 zons, and actually subordinate to the governor of Para, carry its northern 

 boundaries, politically speaking, almost as far as the Oronocos, making its 

 length upwards of forty degrees. Its greatest width is about thirty degrees, 

 from Cape St. Augustin to Point Abuna, upon the margin of the river Madeira. 



This vast region, comprising nearly two millions of square miles, is now 

 divided into twenty-two provinces, including the two mentioned above, viz. 



Guianna Parahiba Espirito Santo 



Para Pernambuco Rio de Janeiro 



Maranham Seregipe d'El Rey St. Paulo 



Siara Bahia St. Catharina 



Rio Grande, North Porto Seguro Rio Grande, South 



Mato Grosso Solimoes Minas Geraes 



Parana Piauhy Goyaz 



Uruguay 



The zoology and phytology of this country extend to such an infinity of 

 objects, that they would form a separate history of themselves. They, as well 

 as mineralogy, will be partially treated upon in the topography of each province. 

 In reference to the first subject, it may be here observed, that a very consi- 

 derable portion of the Brazil is still occupied by Indians, consisting of a 

 vast number of nations, more or less numerous, and generally divided into tribes 

 or hordes, wandering about in a state of nudity, the principal part of their 

 time employed in hunting, gathering honey, and such fruits as nature sponta- 

 neously produces. They believe in the immortality of the soul and a Creator 

 of all, whom they commonly denominate Tupan, and, like many other bar- 

 barians, their adoration is divided between the good and evil spirit, which latter 

 they call Anhanga. No state of government is found amongst them ; each tribe 

 has its elective captain, who directs them only on occasions of assaults and 

 in forming ambuscades against an enemy. Each nation has its peculiar idiom. 



All bordering in 

 part upon the 

 coast. 



Interior pro-' 

 vinces. 



