220 



PROVINCE OF MATTO GROSSO. 



Paraguay, terminate the laky and swampy margins of this majestic river, 

 which commence, as has been previously noticed, at Escalvada Point, near 

 three hundred and fifty miles to the north. The width of the river within this 

 space, during the inundations, which begin in April and continue till Septem- 

 ber, is from seventy to one hundred and fifty miles, and forms an internal sea, 

 which the ancient Vincentistas denominated the Sea or Lake Xarays, from a 

 nation so called, now not existing, or, at least, not known by such an appella- 

 tion. At the time of these awful floods, a great part of the beds of the rivers 

 of St. Louren^o, Tocoary, Mondego, and others on the eastern side, as well 

 as the aforesaid lakes on the western, and the adjacent woods, become portions 

 of this periodical Caspian, where the elevated lands assume the appearance of 

 islands, inhabited by an accumulation of birds and wild animals. 



At the said Fecho, both margins of the Paraguay begin to acquire a solid 

 terra firma, particularly the eastern. By this bank are discharged the small 

 Tipoty, the Correntes, the Rio Branco, (which appears to be the said Correntes,) 

 the Appa, (which is thought to be the Pirahy of the ancient Paulistas,) the 

 Guidava, the Ippanne Guassu, the Ippanne Mirim, and the Chichuhi, where 

 the rugged margin called Huguruguita commences, and is prolonged for the 

 space of thirty-five miles to the mouth of the small Suobogo, where begins the 

 bank or coast of Pataque, of short extent, terminating at the embouchure of 

 the Tabixu, which, as well as the preceding, enters the Paraguay on the 

 left. 



In the latitude of 25° 22' is situated the city of Assumption ; and eighteen 

 miles to the south of it, the first arm of the large river Pilco Mayo is discovered, 

 which originates in the cordillera of the Andes, in the district of Potoze, 

 whither it affords navigation. Forty miles lower down is the mouth of the 

 second arm, and fifteen further, the most southern arm. The course of the 

 Pilco Mayo is not much less than seven hundred miles. 



On the eastern margin, the Piraju, the Cannabe, and the Tibicoary enter the 

 Paraguay. 



In the latitude of 26° 50', the Rio Verde, or Parsa, otherwise Colorado, dis- 

 charges itself, after a course of more than seven hundred miles from the vicinity 

 of the Andes. 



Forty miles further to the south, the grand confluence of the Paranna, little 

 inferior to the Paraguay, augments the wonder which is excited by so vast a 

 mass of water. About one hundred miles lower is the northern branch of the 

 river Salado; and upwards of one hundred and seventy miles further the 



