PROVINCE OF MINAS GERAES. 



273 



of various metals, diamonds, and other precious stones. It produces Indian 

 corn, mandioca, rice, sugar, tobacco, legumes, cotton, various fruits, and in 

 many parts plenty of game. 



Mountains. — The serras of Marcella, Christaes, and Tabatinga, are the 

 most elevated portions of the cordillera which limit it on the west. The serra 

 of Jinipapo is in the vicinity of the confluence of the river Velhas ; the serras 

 Quatys and Araras in the centre of the western part. The serra Negra separates 

 it from the comarca of Rio das Mortes for a considerable space, and is almost 

 entirely of stone, having mines of good gold. The serra Lapa follows that of Oiro 

 Preto to the north. The serra of Piedade extends nearly northward. Those 

 of Saudade and Itucambira run north and south for a great extent, and at a 

 considerable distance from the river Velhas, serving as limits between this 

 comarca and that of Serro Frio. 



^Rivers and Lakes. — The river St. Francisco, which is the largest of the 

 province, and receives a great part of its other rivers, rises in the vicinity 

 of the serra of Canastra. After flowing a considerable space towards the 

 north-east and gathering various small streams on both sides, it receives on 

 the left the Bambuhy, which tlows from the boundary and brings with it the 

 Perdi^ao, that originates in the serra Marcella : this is the first considerable 

 stream that enlarges the St. Francisco. Twenty-eight miles lower it is joined 

 on the right by the Lambary, which waters the extensive district of the town 

 of Tamandua ; as much further to the north it receives on the left the Marmel- 

 lada, that flows from the serra Quatys. Eighteen miles lower the considerable 

 river Para is incorporated with it, after running more than one hundred and 

 forty miles from the south-east and passing the town of Pitangui. The Parau- 

 peba follows, whose course is not le^ than two hundred and ten miles, its 

 origin being near the town of Quelluz. The country through which it flows 

 abounds with cattle. 



Twenty-five miles below the confluence of the Paraupeba is that of the 

 Andaya, which comes from the boundary, running along an extensive and 

 moderately elevated cordillera, (whose southern portion is called Saudade and 

 the northern Quatys,) and bringing with it the Funchal. This river, one 

 hundred miles long, abounds with precious stones, amongst which there are 

 many diamonds. 



A little lower the Borrachuda, discharged also on the left, is not much 

 inferior to the preceding, and runs like it along the western side of a cordillera 

 called the serra Araras, which is parallel with the former. 



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