166 



PROVINCE OF ST. PAULO. 



above the southern point of this island, the river Iguatimy enters the Paranna 

 on the v^estern margin, in latitude 24° 40' ; and in a little higher latitude the 

 Piquiry. Ten miles to the south of the first, it receives, by the right bank, the 

 small river Iguarei, nearest to the Seven Falls. 



At the extremity of the Great Island, the current of the Paranna is much 

 accelerated, and augments proportionably as its margins approximate; and 

 from near four miles of w^idth, which it retains in front of the Iguarei, it dimi- 

 nishes to fifty fathoms, its immense volume of waters being then divided into 

 seven channels, formed by six small islands of rock, traversing the serra of 

 Maracaju, with a current of indescribable fury and awful noise. 



Besides the islands already mentioned in this river, there are a vast number 

 of others, of a smaller size, in the great space that intervenes between the 

 Setequedas and the fall of Urubu Punga. Its waters are turbulent, and ill 

 adapted for drinking. The western margin is flat, in part consisting of a large 

 white sand, with a variety of precious stones, for the space of many leagues 

 without interruption. The eastern bank is generally a little elevated ; and both 

 exhibit continued and extensive woods. Without any considerable windings, 

 it runs between the south and South-west, with a current generally slow and 

 majestic ; but, when strong winds prevail, the waves are as tumultuous as those 

 of the ocean. It abounds with various kinds of fish, some of which are ex- 

 cellent. 



Forty miles below the Seven Falls, the river Jaguare enters the Paranna by 

 the left margin ; and sixty miles further the considerable Iguassu. At a con- 

 siderable distance further, its direction is changed towards the west, and enters 

 the Paraguay in the latitude of 27° 20'. From the mission of Corpus upwards, 

 aboriginal nations alone possess the vast territory watered by this majestic river 

 and its confluents. 



The river Iguassu, which in the Brazilian language signifies " great water," has 

 its principal source in the small river St. Joze, and when it traverses the royal 

 road of Lages to Sorocaba, is already considerable, and runs under the name of 

 Curytiba. Its course is always towards the west, having few windings, forming 

 many falls, which interrupt navigation; sensibly enlarging by those streams 

 which unite themselves with it on one or the other margin, principally the 

 southern, and limiting on the south the vast plains of Guarapuaba, inhabited by 

 Indians. The borders are extensively wooded. The first large fall, denomi- 

 nated Cayacanga, is about fifteen miles below the above-mentioned road, and 

 the largest ten miles above its embouchure, where it is one hundred and thirteen 



