232 



PROVINCE OF GOYAZ. 



Bueno, having lost all recollection of such signals as might have pointed out 

 the way to the Goya district, proceeded too far to the south, and having arrived 

 at the banks of a river, they remained there for some days, and gave it the name 

 of Rio dos Piloes : they found there a considerable quantity of gold, which 

 produced some dissension amongst the party, many wishing to remain in order 

 to take advantage of it. Bueno, however, was determined upon the accom- 

 plishment of his object ; and thinking that the rich treasure he was in pursuit of 

 lay still further to the west, he proceeded in that direction for some days, when 

 they reached a river, which they denominated the river of Perdition, in conse- 

 quence of then considering themselves entirely out of the route to Goyaz. 

 Continuing without embarrassment the same march, they encountered a larger 

 river, and beyond this a third, which they called the Rio das Areas, in conse- 

 quence of the sandy nature of its bed. Journeying onwards to the west, they 

 found another, which received the appellation of Rio Rico, (Rich River,) from 

 the gold which they discovered in it. 



Having lost all hopes of finding the wished-for district in this direction, 

 Bueno retraced his steps, and deviating in the way, after a prolonged and tedious 

 journey, arrived at the river Parannan, where he considered himself still further 

 from his object, in consequence of perceiving certain signs of cattle, which he 

 afterwards found had strayed from the margins of the river St. Francisco in 

 search of better pasturage. 



After three years of ineffectual perseverance and disappointed labour, in 

 quest of the enchanting land, this certanista arrived at St. Paulo with a part of 

 his bandeira ; the remainder having died from diseases and disasters inseparable 

 from such an undertaking. 



The tender age of Bueno when he accompanied his father to the district in 

 question, and fifty years of interval, exculpated him from all blame in the un- 

 fortunate result of this enterprise ; and, as he was a man of known probity, the 

 same governor despatched him again, with every necessary succour, in the 

 confident expectation of a more successful issue. Bueno proceeded for three 

 months through unknown districts, without any track or road, encountering 

 various torrents, and other obstacles of a worse nature, replete with difficulties 

 and delay : at last he arrived at a place about eight miles distant from the pre- 

 sent situation of the capital, where he perceived some indications of Portuguese 

 having been there at some former period, which induced him to halt upon the 

 spot with his companions. Two old Indians were caught, who proved to be 

 of the Goya nation ; and on being interrogated if they knew the place where 



