238 



PROVINCE OF GOYAZ. 



mediately describing another contrary winding to the west, forming two penin- 

 sulas, the first of a circular figure, and the other in the form of an oval. 



About one hundred miles further, in the latitude of six degrees, the Ara- 

 guaya incorporates itself with the Tucantines on the left, rendering it exceed- 

 ingly voluminous and grand, still continuing to flow northward, describing 

 fewer windings and becoming gradually larger. When it passes the town of 

 Cameta, in about 3° latitude, its width is already more than ten miles. The 

 tide flows up this river more than two hundred miles, nearly to the situation 

 denominated Itaboca, which literally means " perforated stone," where the 

 river is precipitated, in a short space, over three falls, which compel the navi- 

 gator to unload his canoes. One hundred miles is computed between the 

 mouths of the Araguaya and Itaboca, and from thence to Cameta one hundred 

 and twenty. The paratinga, not less than eight feet in length, with propor- 

 tionate circumference, and ihejahu, are the largest fish of the High Tucantines, 

 which is not considered to abound in any species of fish. 



The Araguaya, almost as extensive as the province, forms its western 

 boundary from its embouchure to the origin of its principal head, which is in 

 the vicinity of that of the Hipiaughuhi, there flows under the name of the 

 Bonito, which, after gathering by the western bank the river Barreiros and by 

 the eastern the Caiapo, takes the name of Rio Grande, by which it is desig- 

 nated when it traverses the road of Cuiaba. The first considerable river that 

 unites itself with it after passing this road is the Rio Claro, which comes from 

 the south-east, and brings with it the Fartura, that originates in the proximity 

 of the Uruhu. One hundred miles to the north it receives by the same margin 

 the Vermelho, which is inconsiderable when it passes the capital ; a few 

 leagues lower it gathers the Tizoiras, of little less volume and extent than the 

 preceding ; and nearly thirty miles further it is united by the Crixa, which is 

 something larger than the others. All three flow from the south-east, and none 

 of them with less than two hundred miles of course. Navigation has been 

 conducted, by the central one, up to this day, from the capital to the city of 

 Para. 



Thirty miles north of the mouth of the Crixa, which is also navigable, and 

 has some salt pits in its vicinity, the Araguaya divides itself in the latitude of 

 12° 30' into two branches nearly equal, which reunite themselves in the parallel 

 of 9° 36', having formed the island of St. Anna, otherwise Bannanal, of one 

 hundred and eighty miles in length, and of good width : there is a vast lake in 

 the island which has an outlet into an arm of this river. The western arm pre- 



