PROVINCE OF MATTO GROSSO. 



189 



CHAP. X. 



PROVINCE OF MATTO GROSSO. 



First Explorers — Gold discovered — Two Brothers appointed for the purpose of 

 exacting the Fifths on Gold — Their atrocious Conduct — People attracted here 

 hy the Fame of Gold — Destruction of a Pai ty by the Indians — Payagoa and 

 Guaycuru Nations discovered — Their Alliance — Their fatal Attacks upon the 

 Portuguese — Their Disunion — Continued Hostilities of the Guaycurus — Con- 

 flicts with them — Attempts to make Peace with the Indians — Treachery of the 

 Guaycurus — Severe Drought — Arrival of a Governor — Promotes the Naviga- 

 tion to Para — Extent and Boundaries. — Division into Districts — District of 

 Camapuania — Mineralogy — Phytology — Rivers — Zoology — Various Indian 

 Tribes — Povoagoes. — District of Matto Grosso — Mountains — Mineralogy — 

 Phytology — Zoology — Rivers — Capital. — District of Cuiaba — Mineralogy — 

 Phytology — Zoology — Rivers — Povoagdes — Indians. — District of Eororonia — 

 Indiam — Rivers — Lakes. — District of Juruenna — Indians— Rivers — Forts. — 

 District of Arinos — Indians — Rivers. — District of Tappiraquia — Indians- 

 Rivers. — Lands of these Districts fertile and auriferous. 



The Vincentistas having reduced the Guanhana, and Carijo nations, they 

 began to make incursions beyond the Paranna, in pursuit of other Indians 

 equally pusillanimous, and less numerous. Aleixo Garcia and his brother or 

 son, accompanied by a numerous band of domestic Indians, having passed the 

 Paraguay, and penetrated to the proximity of the Andes in the middle of the 

 sixteenth centui-y, were the first known discoverers of the southern part of this 

 vast province ; and Manuel Correa, a Paulista (as well as the others) having 

 passed the Araguaya, a considerable time afterwards, penetrated to its northern 

 part. 



It will be difficult perhaps, to ascertain the names of the other certanistas, 

 or commandants of bandeiras,* who visited this territory in quest of Indians, 



* Bandeira is a name given in the Brazil to an indeterminate number of persons, who provide 



