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PROVINCE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL. 



Mineralogy. — Terra-sombra, or umber, calcareous stone, potters' earth, 

 gold, silver, and sulphureous minerals. 



Phytology. — Timber is more remarkable here for its fine quality than 

 its abundance. From the parallel of 30° degrees southward, on the banks 

 of the principal rivers only, are to be seen any forests of fine full-grown timber. 

 Out of these latitudes, in this province, trees are rare and of small size. In 

 the southern parts, they burn bones and the excrements of cattle, in consequence 

 of the scarcity of wood. In the northern there are beautiful pine trees. 



Zoology. — Five nations held their dominion in this province. The Patos 

 in the peninsula, and to the north of the lake which has taken their name : 

 the Charruas, around the lake Mirim, and as far as the river Plate; the 

 Minuanos, to the westward of the latter ; the Tappes, from the lake Patos to 

 the Uruguay ; the Guaycanans, in the cattle plains, where they still reside at 

 times. Of the first there is now no account, and they appear to be extinct, 

 having most probably intermixed with other tribes. The Charruas have 

 retired into the centre of the country. The Minuanos occupy the lands 

 to the westward of the Tappes from the Ibicui southward. Between the 

 Minuanos and the Charrtias enmity perpetually exists, and frequently wars 

 occur. They both use the lance, the arrow, and the sling, and are expert on 

 horseback. Grapuetan is the name of the country where the Minuanos reside 

 for a considerable part of the year. The Tappes in great numbers formerly 

 lived under the influence of the Christian missions of the Uruguay. 



Amongst other species of wild quadrupeds, there are the anta, like a little 

 cow without horns, as common in the West Indies, the deer, the ounce, the 

 monkey, the paca, like a pig of two months old, the rabbit, quati, cotia, 

 tatous, or armadillo, covered with scales, the jaraticdca, or squash, which 

 the Spaniards and Portuguese call forrilho, the boar, the fox, with various 

 kinds of dogs, viz. the jaguaratirica, guard, guaraxain, and the jaguane. 

 The race of the European species of dog have here multiplied excessively, 

 so that they live in the plains, where they subsist with others of the wild kind, 

 without ever entering any village or dwelling. They are called chimarrde dogs. 

 Immediately on the slaughter of cattle ceasing, and when in want of provisions, 

 they assemble together in large bands, and encircle an ox, which they 

 pursue with unceasing obstinacy until the animal falls with fatigue, and is de- 

 voured by them in a few hours. A horseman even runs a risk in the plains, 

 when they are in a state of famine. No province in the Brazil abounds with 



