PROVINCE OF BAHIA. 



321 



provinces into comarcas, that it will be divided into two, in which event the 

 town of Rio de Contas would be well suited for the head of the future comarca. 

 And for the better delineation of the topography of the country, we will already 

 consider it as divided into two equal parts, or districts, that of Jacobina to the 

 north, and Rio de Contas to the south. 



Mineralogy. — It possesses gold, brass, iron, and silver; saltpetre, mine- 

 ral salt, potters' earth, crystals, limestone, grindstone, and granite. 



Mountains. — The serra of Almas for a considerable space divides the pro- 

 vince from that of Minas Geraes. 



The serra of Villavelha, near the town of Rio de Contas and the Pinga, a 

 few leagues to the west of the latter, the highest portion of which, denominated 

 the Morro das Almas, is seen from a considerable distance, and is fre- 

 quently covered with fogs. Various torrents, which take different courses, 

 have their origin in it. 



The serfa of Catulez, commencing a few leagues to the north of the Pinga, 

 extends forty miles to the north-west, and terminates within twenty of the 

 town of Urubu. 



The serra of Montes Altos, (High Mountains,) which abounds with saltpetre, 

 is prolonged from north to south, at a distance of about thirty-five miles from 

 the river St. Francisco. 



The serra of Cincura, which is a branch of the Aimores, extends almost to 

 the northern extremity of the province, discontinuing entirely in various parts, 

 and serving as a limit to the winter of the sea-coast, when it is there rainy. 



In the district of Jacobina, is the Morro do Chapeo, (or Hat Rock,) so called 

 from its similitude to a hat. 



The serra of Thiuba, which possesses gold, and upon whose summit cold is 

 sensibly felt, is in some parts covered with rocks, in others with woods ; has 

 many dwellers, and a hermitage of St. Gon^alo d' Amarante. 



The serra of Paulista commands the view of a plain extending far to the 

 eastward. 



The serra of Borracha, otherwise Muribeca, is said to have abundance of 

 brass, also some silver, and is not far distant from the celebrated fall of Paulo 

 Affonso. 



The serra of Riachinho is a portion of that of Cincura ; those who come from 

 the river St. Francisco, by the road of Joazeiro in the summer, passing this 

 mountain soon find pasturage for their animals, on its eastern side. 



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