152 



PROVINCE OF ST. CATHARINA. 



of the capital, is the highest mountain seen from Santo to the Torres,* or Towers. 

 The mountain of Bahul is a land-mark for navigators. 



Mineralogy. — Calcareous stones, granite, pedras d'amolar, or whet-stone. 

 It is said there are indications of gold and other metals. 



Phytology. — The oak tree is here more diversified than in the mother 

 country, and excellent for building. The sassafras, cedar, loiro, pau d'arcoy 

 and those called guarabu and grapecique, are trees of precious wood, well 

 adapted for cabinet work ; likewise the tree denominated here pau d'oleo, having 

 the grain close and nicely waved. The Brazilian pine is numerous in various 

 districts. There are a diversity of medicinal plants ; likewise the plant that nur- 

 tures the cochineal, which has been fully described by many writers. It is an insect, 

 and feeds upon the leaves of the opuncia; its size is so diminutive at first, that it 

 scarcely can be seen, but it soon moves and fixes upon a part of the plant, from 

 which it does not remove, and becomes gradually covered with a white skin, 

 so that the body, which is scarlet, is no longer seen. In three months it arrives 

 at maturity, and is not larger than a small pea ; there are various modes of 

 cultivating it, and great care is required to keep off other insects which destroy 

 it. This is an article of considerable commerce and might be cultivated to a 

 great extent in the Brazil. 



Zoology. — Cattle do not abound in consequence of the mountainous nature 

 of the country. Amongst other wild quadrupeds, are well knnvtrn the deer, the 

 tamandua, the monkey, the boar, the ounce, anta, the paca, "djiA t\\.e quaty. 

 Amongst numerous species of birds are remarked the parrot, the macuco par- 

 tridge, the rola, or turtle, the guara, and various sorts of the humming bird 

 called colibri, or beijajior. The lakes abound with wild ducks and geese. An 

 infinite variety of beautiful butterflies are seen in this province, to delight the 

 eye, and engage the research of the naturalist. The air appears filled with 

 floating flowers. 



Rivers, Lakes, and Ports. — The first are generally of a short extent. 

 About three miles north-north-east of the Towers is the mouth of the Mampituba, 

 about one hundred fathoms wide, which was called for some time the Martira 

 Affbnso. It is not more than seven leagues long, being formed of various 

 streams that descend from the cordillera ; its current is violent, but sumacas, 

 or smacks, ascend with the tide twelve miles to the port of Forquilhas. By 



- * The Torres are two great and coutiguous rocks, upon the coast, iu 29° 40' south latitude. 



