248 



PROVINCE OF GOYAZ. 



eastern arm. At this period the name of Nova Beira was given to the neigh- 

 bouring territory. 



District of TvcANTmEs. 



It is the most northern of the eastern districts, and borrows its name from the 

 river which bounds it on the west, separating it from Nova Beira. On the 

 east it is bounded by the cordillera which constitutes the limit between this 

 province and that of Pernambuco. The two rivers of Manuel Alvez did bound 

 it, one on the north, and the other on the south; but, as it has increased 

 towards the north, the limit on that side is not at present quite determinable. 

 This district is computed to be two hundred and eighty miles long from 

 north to south, and one hundred and forty of medium width. 



The two rivers Manuel Alvez and Somno are the principal of those which 

 water this comarca. The latter, it is said, rises in the serra of Figuras, a con- 

 tinuation of the cordillera before alluded to, from whose sides others issue that 

 augment its waters at the commencement. All three are navigable, and afford 

 the same fish as the Tucantines. 



It is a country mountainous in great part, and yet occupied at its northern 

 extremity by various barbarous nations, who follow hunting, damage the farms 

 of cattle breeders, and advance occasionally in squadrons of canoes by the 

 rivers that approximate to the Portuguese establishments. They are of the 

 Xerente, C/iavante, and Tapacoa tribes. Woods exist almost only upon the 

 margins of the rivers, the principal portion consisting of sandy sterile lands, in 

 part appropriated for breeding cattle. Calcareous stone abounds in some places. 

 Gold gave origin to its establishments, and, while obtained without much inge- 

 nuity and labour, rendered many persons rich. 



The principal povoa^oes are, Natividade, Chapada, and Carmo. 



Six miles distant from the right margin of the southern river of Manuel Alvez, 

 and little less than thirty-five from the Tucantines, in the proximity of the morro 

 of Olhos d' Agua, (so called from various rills thence emanating,) where there is 

 gold, and near the small river St. Antonio, is the arraial of Natividade. It is 

 the head of the julgado, with the condition of a town, and the residence at 

 present of the ouvidor of the comarca. It was founded in 1739, and has a 

 church, where the festival of the Nativity of our Lord is held with much solem- 

 nity. It has also two chapels dedicated to Rozario and Terco, and another of 

 St. Benedicto. The culture of the cane, the cotton tree, tobacco, Indian corn, 

 mandioca, and legumes, occupy the greater part of the population. Miners are 



