PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



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The Macacu, otherwise Serra-Grande, (Great Mountain,) the mountains of 

 St. Anne, of Sambe, of Tapacora, and of Urussanga, are situated in that ex- 

 tremity betwixt the districts of Rio de Janeiro and Cape Frio ; the Mount of 

 St. Joam, a league above the emboucheur of the river of the same name, the 

 Serra Jarixina, about twenty miles north-west of the capital, and that of Bo- 

 caina, in the district of Parahiba-Nova, constitute, together with the Organ 

 Mountains, those of the greatest altitude in the province. 



Rivers. — It cannot boast of any very large or magnificent rivers, although 

 it is irrigated by innumerable streams descending from the mountains. The 

 river Parahibais the only considerable one, originating in a small lake, situated 

 upon a southern portion of the Serra Bocaina, a continuation of the Organ 

 range, and about five leagues to the north of Paraty. It runs at first under the 

 name of Paratinga, parallel with the mountains prolonged in piles from the 

 south-west, in a line with the coast ; enters the province of St. Paulo, where it 

 receives the small river Jacuhy, by the left bank, a little above the town of St. 

 Luiz, and somewhat below it, by the same margin, the river Parahibuna, which 

 rises in the serra of Ubatuba. At this confluence it takes the name of Parahiba, 

 approximates the sea a little to the west of the meridian of the capital, then 

 turns towards the north-north-east, flowing along the base of Serra Itapeva, 

 and by the town of Jacarehy. After a course of twenty leagues, with little 

 variation, it inclines to the east and east-south-east, watering the towns of 

 Thaubate, Pindamonhangaba, Guaratingueta, and Lorena ; again turns towards 

 the province in which it has its source, approaching it within five leagues ; bathes 

 the town of Rezende; inclines to the north-east, gathering the river Pirahy, 

 (which comes in a northern course from its origin in the serra of Ilha Grande,) 

 and many leagues lower, having taken an easterly direction, it receives the 

 Parahibuna which is its largest confluent, by the left margin, and the afore- 

 mentioned Piabanha, by the right. This part is designated Tres Rios, (Three 

 Rivers.) Ten leagues below, the Pomba enters it by the northern bank, which 

 fliows from the western part of the Serra Frecheira principally in a south-east 

 course, through a stony bed, rendering the navigation difficult even to canoes. 

 A little lower it receives the Bengalas, which brings with it various other 

 streams. Soon after this junction, it descends the precipitous fall of St. Fideles, 

 to which point barks ascend. Eight leagues lower down, the Muriahe empties 

 itself into it by the northern margin. Six leagues may be computed from this 

 confluence to the emboucheur of the river Parahiba, and from thence to the 

 fall of St. Fideles, which is the first advancing up the river, seventy-two islands 



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