42 



PROVIxNCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



possessing thirty fathoms of depth. The central entrance is betwixt the said 

 island and that of Marambaya, from which latter it derives its name. It is five 

 miles wide, with little less depth than the first. The eastern entrance, denomi- 

 nated the Bar of Guaratiba, is narrow and of little depth. The rivers Guandu 

 and Mambucaba are the principal amongst a great many whose courses termi- 

 nate in this bay, which can boast of some excellent roadsteads. Ilha Grande 

 is four leagues long, with a proportionable width, having many high mountains 

 covered with wild and verdant woods, and numerous fountains of crystalline 

 water, which produce two abundant streams. This bay has various recesses, 

 which are so many secure anchorage places ; the creeks of Abraham, Estrella, 

 and Palmas are the best. This island, which lends its name to the frontier ter- 

 ritory of the continent, has a fertile soil, and is partially cultivated. In the 

 year 1811, its population amounted to three thousand souls, at which period 

 the parish called St. Anna was created : a central chapel, of the same name, 

 serves it for a mother-church. In the creek of Abraham there is a village, 

 which, most probably, at a future day, will become the capital of the island. 

 The island of Marambaya is high and rocky, and overspread with wood. The 

 whole of its cultivation and population arises alone from the establishment of two 

 sugar works upon it; and it possesses a hermitage of Our Lady of Griefs (das 

 Dores.) From this island, a narrow sand-bank stretches to the east for six leagues, 

 as far as the bar of Guaratiba, and is covered in the greatest part with vegetation. 



Over the bay of Angra dos Reys, a vast number of islands are scattered, 

 amongst which may be enumerated the Supituba, Cunhambyba Grande, Jorge, 

 Palmeira, Algodao, Barra, Caeyra, Redonda, Rafael, Cavaco, Pimenta, and 

 another, also called Jorge, which are each from about a mile to two miles in 

 length. The Gipoya, about six miles long, has some indigo works and fisheries ; 

 the Bomfim, very small, has a hermitage of the same name ; the Tacoativa, 

 Jacarahy, Paixao, Francisco Nunes, Barro, Pedreiro, Bayacica, Cana, Porcos, 

 Sappe, Boqueirao, Redonda, Buzios, Casca, Brandao, Coco, Algodao, Ferreira, 

 Cavaco, Jappam, Papagayos, Cobras, Sandre, and St. Joam are all small. The 

 majority of these islands are partly cultivated and peopled. 



Capes. — Cape Frio is the only remarkable cape of the province. That of St. 

 Thome is situated about twenty leagues north-north-east from it. The principal 

 projecting points are Negra Point, nine leagues to the west of Cape Frio ; Buzios 

 Point, four leagues to the north-north-east of the same cape ; and Guaratiba Point, 

 near the bar of its name. The mother-church of the parish of St. Salvador is 

 beautifully situated upon a small eminence in front of the bar of Guaratiba. Its 



