122 



PROVINCE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL. 



or into others. Amongst those extending westward we may remark, in tlie 

 southern part, the Capibaras, into which a small river empties itself of limpid 

 water, bursting suddenly forth with admirable force, and is the purest in the 

 peninsula, which, nevertheless, is not deficient in good potable waters. On the 

 eastern side of the peninsula is the lake Mostardas, better known by the name 

 of Peixe, nine leagues long, with little width, extending along the margin of 

 the sea to the point where it disembogues through an elbow of land, that opens 

 and closes annually, and by which various species of fish enter ; the most 

 numerous are denominated miragarga, resembling the cod-fish. With this lake 

 various others communicate, that lie to the north, and are connected by their 

 different mouths. Near the last, that terminates the extent of the Barros 

 Vermelhos, another chain of a similar description commences, at a short dis- 

 tance from the beach, and extends parallel with it for a space of twenty-five 

 leagues. 



A short way from Barros Vermelhos, and by the side of the sea, there is a small 

 lake that runs into a larger one, which terminates in the Capoes do Retuvado. 

 It has an outlet into another, that extends from hence a league and a half. Beyond 

 these there are two lakes running parallel; and still further another, near the Capao 

 do Xavier, a distance of two leagues, which discharges itself into the lake Char- 

 queada, the latter terminating in the place of that name, and running by a vein into 

 a smaller one : this empties itself into a lake of equal size, and that is joined 

 to a larger, which terminates in the Capao Dastacoaras. The last discharges 

 itself into the Quintao, which runs into the Cidreira. The Cidreira is 

 divided into three bays or lakes, communicating by necks or outlets, and 

 occupying an extent of four leagues and a half. It has a channel of two miles 

 long to the Ribeiro, terminating near the passage of the Arroio, its outlet 

 to the river Tramandahy. The river Tramandahy is in 30° south latitude, and 

 is nothing more than the channel of discharge to a great number of lakes, 

 spreading themselves over the extensive plains that lie between the beach 

 and the cordillera. Into this river also is discharged the most southern of 

 another chain of lakes, that extend themselves along the same cordillera north- 

 ward, very near to the river Mombituba, at the mouth of which there is a mili- 

 tary detachment, in order to register persons entering or leaving the province. 

 In the space of twelve leagues, which lie between the Tramandahy and the 

 Mombituba, fourteen small rivers of crystalline water are discharged into the sea. 



The afore- mentioned peninsula, formed by the lake Patos and the ocean, 



