PROVINCE OF MATTO GROSSO. 



203 



the Sanguexiiga and the Vermelho. The latter, of a green colour, partaking of 

 the hue of its bed, is small, and flows from the north. The Sanguexuga, (the 

 Leach,) so called from passing near a lake where they are excellent, originates a 

 few miles to the south-west of the Camapuan, and is navigable for the space of 

 five or six leagues. Its water is crystalline and excellent as far as the confluence 

 with the former. The Pardo is considerable, and so rapid that canoes advance 

 against its stream by the use of the vara with great labour; waterfalls and 

 currents increasing more and more from its centre upwards, which render the 

 navigation more tedious than any other river which the Cuiabanos navigate, 

 who consume almost two months in proceeding up to the situation where the 

 navigation of only two hundred and eighty miles terminates, computing by 

 water. Its course is winding towards the south-east, through delightful plains 

 at the commencement, where the navigator passes the white deer, anta, 

 tamandua, wild hog, wolf, fox, emu ostrich, seriema, partridge, &c. which 

 invite him to the diversion of shooting. 



These plains continue to the falls of Caiuru Gua^u and Caiuru Mirim, which 

 are situated about the middle of the extent of this river, with an interval of 

 three miles one from the other. From this situation downwards, both margins 

 are clothed with woods, abounding more in honey than fruits, and only one 

 small fall or current is met with, called Capoeiras, eighteen miles below that of 

 Caiuru Mirim, 



The principal falls of this river are the Caiuru Gua^u, Tijuco, Tacoaral, 

 Tamandua, Curao, which is the largest of the whole, and near fifty palms in 

 height, Ballo, Lage Grande, Lage Pequena, Banco Grande, Banco Pequena. 

 In passing these, the canoes are conveyed by land ; — Caiuru Mirim, Banquinho, 

 Cirga Comprida, Empirucu, Mangaval, Cirga do Campo, Manuel Rodrigues, 

 Sucuri, Embirucu Mirim, another called Embirucu, Paredao, Furado, Formi- 

 gueiro, Pedras d'Amolar, Vermelho, Tocoarapaia, past all which canoes are 

 dragged by a warp, with but half a cargo, and double the number of people. 

 There are others passed with full cargoes, the canoes being impelled by a 

 greater or less number of men. 



Upon the banks of the Pardo, two sorts of the palm are seen, which are not 

 met with near any of the other rivers of the Cuiabana navigation. One called 

 guacuman, slender and six or seven feet in height, of which a good bait for fish 

 is made ; the other, denominated brutiz, is high and thick with leaves seven 

 feet long. The Indians, and also the ancient certanistas, made of its fruit a 

 wine, very similar to that of the red grape in colour and taste. 



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