258 



PROVINCE OF MINAS GERAES. 



CHAP. XII. 



PROVINCE OF MINAS GERAES. 



Boundaries — Extent — Climate — Discoverers of its Mines — Mountains — Rivers — 

 Mineralogy-^ Zoology — Phytology— Exports — Comarcas and Towns. — Co- 

 marca of Villa Ricor^ Limits — Mountains— Rivers — Capital — Povoagdes. — 

 Comarca of Rio das Morten— Limits — Mountains — Rivers — Povoagdes.— 



- ' Comarca of Sahara — Limits — Mountains — Rivers-^Lakes — Povoagdes. — Co- 



- ^'^--marca of Serro Frio— Limits — Rich in Diamonds — Mountains— Rivers — 

 bti£. Pff^oagoes — Diamond District— Tijuco— Seat of Diamond Junta. 



?^This pravinc|, created in the year 1720, being until that period a portion of 

 that of St. Paulo, is bounded on the north by the province of Bahia, from which 

 it is separated by the river Verde, and by that of Pernambuco, from which it is 

 -^^'Mffivided by the river Carynhenha ; on the south by the serra of Mantiqueira, 

 ^ which separates iifTrom that of St. Paulo, and the rivers Preto, Parahibuna, 

 and Parahiba, Vhich divide it from the province of Rio de Janeiro ; on the 

 - west 'i>y the province of Goyaz; and on the east by that of Espirito Santo, 

 Porto Seguro, and a part of Bahia. It is nearly four hundred miles long from 

 ^^'nofth ta south, and two hundred and eighty of medium width, extending ftfom 

 f 30' to 21° 40'. The climate is temperate compared with others of the torrid 

 '*^one, arising" frobii the elevated and mountainous nature of this province. The 

 winter commences in October, always with thunder. Some years, inihe months 

 of June and July, towards the southern part, cold and frost are prevalent, and 

 water congeals in vessels exposed to the night air. 



Gold, which is found in all the districts of this province, was the origin of 

 its name, (General Mines,) and which becomes still more appropriate, since all 

 other metals are ascertained to exist here. 



The discovery of this country is owing to the intrepidity of S. F. Tourinho, 

 an inhabitant of Porto Seguro, who, proceeding up the river Doce, in 1573, 

 traversed it as far as the Jequitinhonha, by which he descended. 



A few years afterwards A. D. Adorno, with a view of profiting by the mines 

 of emeralds discovered by Tourinho, advanced, with one hundred and fifty 



