PROVINCE OF ST. PAULO. 



17& 



affording plains for the extensive breeding of cattle, could not fail to produce 

 a rapid increase of the town of Lages. In such a state of things it would 

 become the head of a populous and rich comarca. 



Villa do Principe, originally St. Antonio da Lapa, is ten miles southward 

 from the before-mentioned register of Curytiba, near the royal road. Its people 

 are breeders of cattle, and cultivate wheat, rye, Indian corn, and divers fruits. 



Five miles north of the same register, and also upon the border of the road, 

 near a small river which contributes its water to the Iguassu, is the arraial of 

 Thauha, possessing a hermitage of the Lady of Concei^ao. 



Curytiba, the name by which this district has been recently designated, in 

 the Brazilian language signifies curu, " pine," and tiba, " many." It com- 

 prises almost all the comarca, or southern part of the province, from the 

 General Serra to the westward. The winter commences in this part about May, 

 and lasts till September, with a south, and occasionally a south-west wind, 

 which is colder than the first. The most common trees are the Brazilian pine. 

 These majestic trees form extensive woods, abounding with the mountain hog, 

 which go in herds, at times, of one hundred and more. 



The fruit trees of Europe prosper here better than the indigenous ones of this 

 continent, and amongst the former may be enumerated the fig, pear, apple, 

 plum, peach, quince, cherry, walnut, and chestnut. The olive-trees are laden 

 with flowers, but rarely fructify. Mandioca, the banana, coffee, and cotton 

 trees, as well as the sugar cane, only prosper in some situations. The matte 

 grows spontaneously, and is very common. The great consumption of a beverage 

 made from this tree in the province, and in those of St. Catharina and Rio Grande 

 do Sul, and also by many people in the metropolis, augurs favourably for the 

 addition of another branch of commerce to this comarca. Bunches of grapes 

 are frequently met with of upwards of five pounds weight ; but hitherto no good 

 wine has been manufactured. 



In the year 1812 a large quantity of divers plants of the vine were sent here 

 from Europe ; and it is confidently expected that many will succeed as well if 

 not better than in their native soil ; so that with proper attention good wine may 

 in time be produced. 



The Curytibanos pass for the most powerful and robust people amongst the 

 Paulistas. They cultivate abundance of wheat and Indian corn, with some 

 rice ; they breed cattle, horses, and mules, possess a great number of cows, 

 and make some butter and cheese. The cows are of a large size, and afford 



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