PROVINCE OF MINAS GERAES. 



265 



size. Independently of the above obstacles, the Doce is navigable for a great 

 extent, and I vras assured by an ouvidor, having a neighbouring jurisdiction, that 

 no very great expenditure on the part of the government would render it the 

 most important and certainly the best medium of transit for the produce of the 

 interior districts of Brazil, The Maquipoo is one of its first tributaries received 

 on the right, and enters a little above the mouth of the Bombaca. 



The Preto originates in the serra Ititiaya, a branch of the Mantiqueira range, 

 and runs eastward through the territory of the Ararys, bounding the province, 

 until it enters the Pai-ahibuna, which latter rises near the Chopoto, and flows 

 into the Parahiba. 



The Pomba, which as has been observed, is a tributary of the Parahiba » 

 waters an extensive tract on the southern part of this comarca, and passes near 

 the parish of St. Manuel, whose inhabitants are Coroado and Crapo Indians, 

 with some whites, principally raising Indian corn, legumes, some sugar, and 

 numerous hogs. The fertility of the country, with the navigation of the river, 

 promises it a future increase. Its church is forty miles from the mouth of 

 the river. 



Villa Rica, antecedently Oiro Preto, was created a town in 17 II, and is large, 

 populous, abundant, and flourishing. It is the capital of the province, and the 

 residence of the governor, at present Don Manuel de Portugal e Castro ; like- 

 wise of the ouvidor of the comarca, who holds other offices, serving also as 

 crown judge with jurisdiction over the whole province. It has a Juiz de Fora^ 

 who is also attorney-general ; a vicar-general, and professors, I had almost 

 forgot royal, of primitive letters, Latin, and philosophy. This town is ill 

 situated at the southern base of the serra of Oiro Preto, amongst gloomy rocks, 

 upon very uneven ground, and frequently covered with fogs, which are said to 

 cause amongst the inhabitants continued colds or defluxions from the head. 

 There is a house of misericordia, founded by G. F. d' Andrade, in virtue of a 

 law of the 16th April, 1738; a smelting house; a junta of the treasury, com- 

 posed of four deputies, the ouvidor of the comarca, the attorney-general, the 

 general treasurer, and the auditor, with the governor as president. It has ten 

 chapels, of the Lord Bom Fim, Almas, St. Anna, St, Joam, &c. ; besides 

 three Terceira orders of St. Francisco d' Assis, Carmo, and St. Francisco 

 de Paula, almost all of which, with four bridges, are of stone. The palace, 

 military quarters, and municipal house, are considered to be handsome ; the 

 latter has an annual revenue of about fifteen thousand crusades. It has a fort 

 with some pieces of ordnance, which are fired occasionally on holidays ; four- 



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