260 



PROVINCE OF MINAS GERAES. 



to visit the lake Vnpabussu, (Large Lake,) which he ultimately found, after a 

 laborious search ; and was also directed, by an Indian which he had taken, to 

 the emerald mines. On the return of this certanista towards St. Paulo, he 

 died near the river Velhas, where he fortunately met with, amongst other 

 countrymen, Manuel de Borba Gato, his son-in-law, to whom he left the 

 golden fruits of all his labours. 



In the mean time D. Rodrigo de Castello Branco entered the country, with 

 the appointment of superintendent of the mines, and wishing also to participate 

 in the credit of discovering the emerald mines, on his arrival at the river Velhas 

 sent to beg of M. de Borba Gato a part of the equipment and provisions left 

 him by Paez. His refusal to comply with this request occasioned some 

 menacing words to escape from Branco, which were sufficient to cause his 

 assassination basely by a servant of Gato, to whom General A. de Sa offered a 

 pardon, in the name of the King, on condition of his pointing out the copious 

 mines of Sahara, discovered by him. Those conditions being fulfilled, the rank 

 of lieutenant-general was unwisely and undeservedly granted to this instigator 

 of murder. 



The abundance of gold attracted a great number of Paulistas and Europeans 

 to this province, between whom obstinate disputes arose, and a prolonged civil 

 war. 



M. N. Vianna, a native of the town of Vianna, was chief of the European 

 party, who had appointed him governor of the new mines, when A. d'Albuquer- 

 que Coelho, the first general of the province of St. Paulo, with prudence and 

 power, terminated, in 1710, the sanguinary dissensions between the disputants. 



This province, whilst a comarca of that of St. Paulo, and before it had 

 generals for governors, was various times visited by those of Rio de Janeiro, 

 not only at the period of the disorders caused by the Paulistas and Europeans 

 but anterior to the conclusion of the strifes that existed among the Piratininga^- 

 nos and Thaubatenos. 



D. Louren^o d'Almeyda was the first general of the province, which appoint- 

 ment was bestowed upon him with much splendour in the church of Our Lady 

 of Pilar, of Villa Rica, on the 18th of August, 1720. This province is now, 

 comparatively speaking, tolerably populous, and divided into four comarcas. 



Mountains. — It is the most mountainous country in the Brazil. The serra 

 Mantiqueira, which is the most celebrated in the province, commences in the 

 Northern part of that of St. Paulo ; from thence, running almost north-east, 

 Bot vithout many windings, as far as the town of Barbacena, where it inclines 



