PROVINCE OF BAHIA. 



319 



da Escada, and a bridge is over the larger stream, which washes the northern 

 side of the town. 



Rio de Contas is a middling town, well situated a little within the mouth and 

 upon the southern margin of the river from which its name is derived, and that 

 forms a very good port for the reception of sumacas between two rivers of very 

 imequal magnitude, the waters of which are excellent for tempering iron. It 

 has a church dedicated to St. Miguel, and a stone bridge over the larger river. 

 The inhabitants are obliged by the camara to cultivate, under certain penalties, 

 so many feet of mandioca, proportioned to the number of slaves which each 

 farmer possesses. This arrangement produces considerable exportation of 

 farinha to the capital. 



Camamu is a town in a state of mediocrity, possessing some commerce, and 

 agreeably situated upon the left bank of the Acarahy, ten miles above its em- 

 bouchure, and opposite the mouth of the Cachoeira, which joins the former on 

 the right. It possesses a church of Our Lady of Assump^ao, a hermitage of 

 Our Lady of Desterro, and royal professors of Latin and the primitive letters. 

 The exports are considerable in coflTee, farinha, spirits, timber, rice, and cocoa. 

 At this town a road terminates from the central part of the district of the town 

 of Rio de Contas, from whence proceed numerous droves of oxen. 



Marahu is a small town, well situated upon the margin and about twenty 

 miles distant from the mouth of the river from which it derives the name, and 

 by which small craft proceed up to its port. It has a church dedicated to St. 

 Sebastian. The inhabitants produce much mandioca, and collect some timber. 

 In its district are portions of soil particularly adapted to the produce of water- 

 melons and pine-apples, which are very large and excellent, and are sent in 

 considerable abundance to the capital. 



Barcellos is also a small town, advantageously standing at the angle of the 

 confluence of the small river Paratigy, with the Marahu, ten miles below the 

 town of the same name. The inhabitants are Indians, cultivate mandioca and 

 other necessaries of life peculiar to the country, and dress the flax of ticum. 

 The church is -entitled Our Lady of Candeias. 



Serinhehem, commonly called Santarem, is a very small town, near the mouth 

 of the stream of that name, and peopled with Indians, who are fishermen, 

 agriculturists, and cutters of wood. St. Andre is the titular patron of its 

 church. 



Cayru, a town of medium size, pleasantly situated upon a small island of the 

 same name, between those of Tinhare, Tupiassu, and the continent, has one 



