282 



PROVINCE OF MINAS GERAES. 



the savages. This river and its confluents abound with chrysolites, sapphires, 

 crystals, d' agua, and other precious stones. The Jequitinhonha gathers 



on the left the Hottinga, on the right the St. Java, and leaving the province 

 flov^'s north-east, forming a boundary to the ocean between the provinces of 

 Porto Seguro and Bahia, where it is discharged under the name of the Bel- 

 monte. All these rivers are stored with the fish called doirado, piampara, pimi, 

 piabanha, trahira, soruhin, and mandin, called also roncadore. 



The river Verde is large and flows through extensive certams abounding 

 with cattle, which forms the wealth of many farmers, who live dispersed, prin- 

 cipally in the vicinity of the southern portion of the serra of Gram Mogol. 

 After a considerable course to the north, it receives on the right the Guaratuba, 

 which originates near the northern portion of the last mentioned serra, and 

 brings with it the Pacuhy, that issues from the serra Pranca, and joins it on the 

 eastern side. Ten miles below the mouth of the Guaratuba, the Verde Pequeno 

 (small) enters, which flows from the Morro da Chapeo, a portion of the serra 

 Almas, taking a westerly course, and forming the northern division of the pro- 

 vince. At this part the Verde runs with little variation to the west, and con- 

 tinues in the same direction till it joins the St. Francisco. These rivers water 

 sterile districts, which will never become populous. 



The Pardo forms itself in the vicinity of the serra Almas, runs south-east, 

 gathering the Preto, which has its source in the serra Branca, inclines to the 

 east, and enters the comarca of Ilheos, where it is discharged into the ocean by 

 the name of Patype. 



The Miicury, whose principal head springs to the south of the serra Esrae- 

 raldas, after receiving by the left margin the large and small Preto, and lower, 

 the Todos os Santos on the right, enters the province of Porto Seguro, where 

 it increases, and falls into the ocean. The territory which this river passes, 

 (before leaving the comarca,) and its said tributaries, was formerly possessed 

 by the Macuni, Panhame, Capocho, and Machacary Indians. At the present 

 day the ferocious Aimhores are its wandering inhabitants. 



The first river Preto, about ten miles above its mouth, gathers on the left the 

 small stream of Americanas, formed by three rivulets issuing from the same 

 serra. Near the central one was found in 1811, a beautiful aqua-marina, of 

 more than fifteen pounds weight, and another of four pounds. The Sassiihy, 

 the Corrente, and the St. Antonio, are tributaries of the river Doce, and flow 

 through the most southern part of the comarca. 



