178 PROVINCE OF ST. PAULO. 



dedicated to the Lady of Neves. The exportation of rice from hence is con- 

 siderable. 



Castro, with a church dedicated to St. Amaro, is yet a small town, but well 

 situated at the point where the river Hyapo (of which it originally took the 

 name) traverses the royal road. In its vicinity are found the most precious 

 stones. After the subjugation of the savages of Guarapuava, great expectations 

 are entertained of its increase, as well as of the cultivation of its extensive 

 contours. 



St, Joze, ten miles to the south-east of Curytiba, is agreeably elevated above 

 the surrounding campinha, and is one mile from the left margin of the small 

 river of its name, which, after a course of seven miles further, incorporates 

 itself with the Curytiba. 



Forty miles to the west of the two last-named towns, there is a register upon 

 the margin of the Curytiba, where, in some years, thirty thousand mules pass 

 to Sorocaba. 



Lages, otherwise Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, is the most southern town of 

 the province, and was never considerable, in consequence of its proximity to 

 the savages, but is at present much reduced by their invasions. It is situated 

 upon what is denominated the royal road, two miles north of the river Caveiras, 

 and about one from the small Caraha, which takes the name of a species of 

 cane or bamboo that grows in abundance upon its margins, and are the best 

 of the province ; some have so peculiar a varnish upon them, that they appear 

 like the work of an able hand. There are excellent amolar, or grind-stones, in 

 the same stream. The country surrounding ^this town is of great fertility, is 

 irrigated by many rivers, and has a temperate and salubrious climate. Le- 

 gumes, wheat, Indian com, &c. with cattle, are raised, and almost every 

 species of fruit tree prospers ; but the people, besides diminishing in number, 

 are poor for want of an outlet for their productions. The opening of a good 

 road, by which the farmers might with facility transmit their surplus produce to 

 the port of St. Catharina; or perhaps better through the medium of the town 

 of Laguna, (the road terminating in that case at the port of Guarda, from 

 whence the Tuburao affords navigation to the said town,) would induce 

 numerous colonies to establish themselves in this fertile territory, rendered 

 more desirable by the fine temperature of the climate, when the aborigines 

 would be either compelled to retire, or to submit to some mode of subjection. 

 The many aldeias, which would necessarily be spread over this fine district, 



