PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



101 



The principal lakes in this district are the Araruama and the Sequarema ; 

 the first, twenty miles long, and eight at the widest part, is separated from the 

 ocean by a bank in many parts of small elevation, and empties itself at the 

 eastern extremity, by a channel, which at the mouth is fifty yards in width. 

 Notwithstanding its waters are supplied by various rivers, they have a saline 

 flavour, in consequence of its communication with the sea. It abounds with a 

 variety of fish, and in some situations is many fathoms in depth, in others quite 

 shallow. Various small bays on the southern side are formed by headlands, 

 in which the operations of nature furnish considerable quantities of salt, almost 

 without human aid. Nine places may be reckoned which are apparently des- 

 tined by Providence for the production of this indispensable article ; the whole 

 is not however formed by the sea water, but by the aqueous flow of rain through 

 the saltpetre or saline particles with which the earth is impregnated, subse- 

 quently acquiring the consistency of marine water, and which arrives at its ulti- 

 mate crystalization, by the influential rays of the sun. The largest of the 

 rivers which the lake Araruama receives are the Francisco Leite, which enters 

 it at the western extremity, and the Mataruna, which is crossed by a bridge, 

 and disembogues about four miles to the east of the other ; between those 

 streams, and at a short distance from the lake, is situated the parish of St. 

 Sebastian, whose inhabitants are cultivators of mandioca, rice, feijao, a little 

 sugar, and derive some profit from fishing. 



The lake Sequarema, in the vicinity of Ponta Negra, is six miles long from 

 east to west, and three at the widest part ; the water is salt, abounding with 

 fish, and separated from the sea by a narrow tract of land. During the rainy 

 season, when it inundates the adjacent country, in consequence of the super- 

 abundance of waters brought by the small streams, the dwellers near it open a 

 channel to the ocean from its eastern extremity, which is soon filled up again, 

 on the return of dry weather, by the flowing of the sea. The river Tinguy, 

 which runs into its most northern bay, is the principal one that it receives. 

 Upon the neck of land which divides it from the ocean, a parish has originated, 

 called Our Lady of Nazareth, whose parishioners grow Indian corn, mandioca, 

 and feijao, and are fishermen, which occupation constitutes their chief gain. 



Between the lake Sequarema, and the Cururupina, is situated the Jacune, 

 which is near three miles in length, and of proportionable width. 



The lake Jacarepua lies between the Sequarema and Araruama, comprising 

 two miles of length, and something less in width. The lake Vermelha, about 

 the same size, is near the western extremity of the Araruama, and although it 

 has no communication with the sea, its waters are saline. 



