PROVINCE OF ST. PAULO. 



187 



produce of rich mines of iron in the serra Guarassoiava, will tend to render this 

 town still more considerable. Many years ago a mine of silver was discovered 

 in the district of Guarassoiava, which was abandoned, in consequence of its 

 poverty and diflScult extraction. 



Itapitininga, yet an inconsiderable town, and well situated in a vast and 

 delightful plain near the royal road, is two miles from the right bank of the 

 river from which it has the name. It is embellished with a church of the Lady 

 of Merces, is well provided with water, and is about forty miles to the south 

 of Sorocaba. The people who inhabit it cultivate wheat, legumes, and abun- 

 dance of Indian corn. The peach and grape are plentiful and of good flavour, 

 and, as in most other cultivated districts of this province, the breed of cattle is 

 numerous. 



Itapeva, situated near the royal road, or estrada real, as it is denominated, 

 in the vicinity of the Verde, is at present inconsiderable ; it has a church, 

 dedicated to St. Anna. 



Appiahi, a town of the same class as the preceding, is at a great distance 

 from the road, near the source of the river from which it derives its name, and 

 in the vicinity of a morro, from whence, at its origin, much gold was extracted. 

 It has one church. 



Hitu, a large and flourishing town, is the head of the comarca of its name, 

 having a church of the Lady of Candellaria, a Franciscan convent, an hospicio 

 of slippered Carmelites, an hospital of Lazars, with its hermitage, others of 

 Bom Jezus, the Lady of Patrocinio, and Santa Rita. All its buildings are of 

 taipa, and some streets are paved. It has the usijal royal professors, and is 

 situated twenty-five miles to the north-north-east of Sorocaba, sixty to the west- 

 north-west of St. Paulo, and two from the left margin of the Tiete, which 

 forms at this situation a large and interesting fall, by the name of which 

 this town is designated. Excessive heat is experienced here in the summer 

 months. The soil in the environs is peculiarly adapted to the culture of the 

 sugar cane, of which there are extensive plantations, constituting the riches of 

 its inhabitants, who also raise cattle and divers necessaries of life. 



Porto Feliz, formerly called Araritaguaba, is a moderate town, with houses 

 of wood, seated upon the left margin of the Tiete. It has a church of the 

 Lady May dos Homens, (Mother of Men,) is nearly eighteen miles to the 

 west of Hitu, and twenty-five to the north-north-west of Sorocaba, and is the 

 port of the navigators to Cuiaba. The inhabitants are cattle-breeders, and 

 cultivate the cane, feijao, and Indian corn. 



