PROVINCE OF PARANNA. 



L39 



and twenty in width ; they agree that it communicates with the Uruguay by the 

 Mirinay, and with the Paraguay by the Cori-entes, which empties itself near 

 thirty-five miles below St. Luzia. It is also said to communicate in two parts 

 with the Paranna. The lake Jagape, which is large, and surrounded with 

 woods, is near the northern bank of the Paranna, about sixty miles above 

 the town of Itaty. 



Phytology. — The cedar, which is of various sorts, the 'pau cTarco, (bow 

 wood,) sassafras, with many other trees of fine timber for building ; the pine 

 tree, and those which afford a resin denominated the blood of the dragon, and 

 the oil of cupaliiba ; the ipecacuanha, jalap, rhubarb, and other medicinal plants; 

 the opmicia, pine-apple, orange, banana, and mamoe, of which last tree there are 

 male and female ; the male bears no fruit but only flowers, the female bears fruit 

 and no floAvers, 



The vegetable matte is a large shrub or bush, with leaves similar to an orange 

 tree, and tastes of mallows ; it is said the serra Maracaju produces the best. 

 It is usual not to wait for the leaves falling, but they are plucked, and then 

 dried by some of the most approved methods, generally upon hides between 

 two fires. This plant is taken almost like tea, and the use of this beve- 

 rage has prevailed from time immemorial amongst the Indians of the northern 

 part of this province. It was they who introduced it amongst the first inha- 

 bitants of Assumption. 



Zoology. — This province is prodigiously abundant in cattle, horses, and 

 mules ; sheep are numerous, but goats few. There is a sufficiency of hogs 

 for the consumption of the inhabitants. Amongst the wild quadrupeds are 

 remarked the ounce, the deer, the monkey, the fox, the rabbit, the cat, the 

 tamandua, quaty, zoi rilha, or squash, the tatous, or armadillo, paca, cotia, and the 

 boar. Of birds, the emu ostrich, the seriema, jahuru, cegonha, garca, mutun,jacu, 

 colhereira, urubu, tucano, rola, troquaze pigeons, the parrot, codortiize, or quail, 

 beija-Jior, or humming-bird, the guiraponga, and the partridge. There are also 

 a diversity of wild ducks and geese. 



The principal jjowoapoe^ are, Assump^ao, or Assumption, Correntes, Coruguaty, 

 and Villa Rica. 



Assump^ao, an episcopal city, is in a state of mediocrity, possessing some 

 commerce. It is the capital and the residence of the governor, and is situated 

 upon the margin of the Paraguay, which daily washes away a part of the ground 

 upon which it is built. It is ornamented with a hospital, with convents of the 



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