PROVINCE OF ST. CATHARINA. 



159 



The channel which separates this island from the continent is far from being 

 of uniform width, forming two large ports, almost equal in size, and separated 

 by a straight of two hundred fathoms between two points. The northern and 

 larger port, ten miles wide, having depth for ships of war, is one of the best in 

 South America, and the key to the southern ocean. The wind prevails from 

 the south during the winter, which commences generally in May and ends in 

 October. Thunder-storms are frequent in the summer ; all the afternoons here 

 are refreshed by strong sea breezes, rendering the climate of this island equal 

 to any in the world. 



Near to the southern point of St. Catharina are six small islands. The three 

 western ones are called the Papaguos, and the eastern the Tres Ismaos. The 

 islands of Moleques, Campeche, Xavier, Aranhas, and Badejo are situated 

 upon the eastern coast of the island of St. Catharina. Near its northern point 

 are three, called the Moleques. Five miles north of the same point are the 

 islands of Arvoredo and Galle. Within the principal port, amongst others, 

 are the islands of Tomarim, near the coast of the continent, and the Ratones, 

 almost in front of the river of the same name, both fortified. In the southern 

 port are the islands of Cardos and Maruhy. 



The town of Nosso Senhora do Desterro, the capital of the province, is 

 considerable, populous, and situated on the western side of the island of St. 

 Catharina, upon a bay a little to the east-south-east of the straight, on unequal 

 land between two rocks, traversed by three small rivers, which are passed by 

 various stone bridges. The streets are almost generally irregular, and the 

 houses either of stone or wood. Besides a church, it has the chapels of Menino 

 Deos, Our Lady of Rozario, a Terceira order of St. Francisco d'Assis, and a 

 hospital of charity. The quarters of the troops are good. The senate is pre- 

 sided by a Juiz de Fora, and the youth are instructed by royal masters in the 

 primitive letters and Latin, for whose benefit there is a tribute in rum. Potteries 

 afford a branch of industry and commerce. Coarse cloths of linen and cotton, 

 also a mixture of both, are manufactured. 



The parish of Nosso Senhora das Necessidades, better known by the name 

 of St. Antonio, is five miles north of the capital, and small, but its situation is 

 particularly pleasant. The inhabitants cultivate sugar, raandioca, Indian corn, 

 some flax, and various hortulans. A little more than three miles to the north 

 is the bay Das Canavieiras (of canes or reeds.) Here the Spaniards disem- 

 barked in 1777, and took possession of the island without the least resistance. 



The parish of Nosso Senhora da Concei9ao is situated about a league to the 



