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PROVINCE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL. 



by the marching of troops in two bodies to the frontier of Rio Pardo and Rio 

 Grande. By the narrow land between the lake Mirim and the ocean, S. Soares and 

 J. Antunes marched with one hundred and fifty men against the camp of Chuy, 

 which was surprised, sacked, and abandoned, without any loss on the part of 

 the assailants. This corps passed to the other side of Rio de St. Gon^alo, and 

 halted at Herval, in front of some advanced posts established on the north of the 

 Jaguaron, which the Spaniards abandoning, the Portuguese demolished. The 

 same misfortune befel all the other Spanish detachments, as far as the vicinity 

 of the Jacuhy, without excepting fort St. Teela. On the Spanish guards retiring 

 towards the post of Cerro-largo, twelve leagues to the south of the Jaguaron, 

 on the Batuvi, they had a rencounter with a party of Portuguese, who put 

 them to flight, took six waggons with ammunition, provisions, and mathe- 

 matical instruments. A small party of the Portuguese and Spaniards engaged 

 each other on the Jaguaron, when the former were successful, returning with 

 fifty prisoners, having lost only two men. 



Shortly after, a colonel passed to the other side of the river with twelve hundred 

 Portuguese, and marched to the attack of the Spanish fort at Cerro-largo. 

 Before the Portuguese had fired many guns, some cartridges of powder took fire, 

 and a horse taking fright threw the cavalry into disorder, which spread through 

 the whole detachment. Animated by this event, and wishing to take advantage 

 of it, a sortie was made by a squadron of Spanish cavalry ; but the Portuguese 

 forming again, they were obliged to retreat. This trifling reverse, and the small- 

 ness of the garrison, induced the commandant to capitulate. The Portuguese 

 apprehending, however, the arrival of some Spanish reinforcements from Monte 

 Video, dismantled the fort and returned to their former position. Shortly 

 afterwards, the large reinforcement which left Monte Video in order to succour 

 the pass of Cerro-largo, arrived at the opposite banks of the river. The Portu- 

 guese showing at the same time a resolute determination to oppose their passage. 

 In this state of things, the news of peace arrived and terminated the campaign. 



Mountains. — This province has no very considerable mountains, excepting 

 the Cordillera called the General Serra, which runs from the north, near the sea, 

 and in the parallel of 29° 30' turns to the west, and then north-west with some 

 windings, breaking in many parts to afford a passage to various rivers, amongst 

 others, the Paranna. The mountain of St. Martinho, or Monte Grande, is a 

 portion of that serra, where it divides this province from that of Uruguay. 

 Monte Vidio, or Video, situated on the west side of the bay to which it gives 

 the name, is pleasing to the view, and high only in the vicinity of the sea. 



