368 



PROVINCE OF PERNAMBUCO. 



about seven miles from the ocean. All these rivers admit of the entrance of 

 boats and small vessels. The Moxoto, after a considerable course, empties 

 itself eight miles above the fall of Paulo Affonso. It is only a current during 

 the rainy season. The delicate mandin fish, which proceed up whilst it is full, 

 as soon as the river ceases to run, and the water begins to grow warm in the 

 wells, pines away, and soon dies. The Pajehu is only a current whilst the 

 thunder showers prevail. 



Promontories. — Cape St. Augustine, the only one upon the coast, is the 

 most famous in the new world, and the most eastern land of South America, in 

 the latitude 8° 20'. Here is a religious hospicio of slippered Carmelites, dedi- 

 cated to Our Lady of Nazareth, which many captains formerly honoured with 

 a salute on passing. It has two forts, each of which defends a small port, 

 where vessels of an inferior class can come to anchor. 



Islands. — Itaraaraca, for a considerable time called Cosmos, is three leagues 

 long from north to south, and one in the widest part ; it is mountainous and 

 inhabited. Its principal place is the parish of Our Lady of Concei^ao, situated 

 on the southern side, about half a league above the mouth of the Iguarassu. 

 This was formerly a town, the prerogative of which was transferred to Goyanna, 

 whose senate goes annually to assist at the festival of its patroness. The 

 mangoes and grapes of this island are highly praised. There are also several 

 very fine salt-pits. The channel which separates it from the continent is narrow 

 and deep. At the northern entrance, called Catuama, there is commodious 

 anchorage for ships in front of the mouth of the river Massaranduba. 



The island of St. Aleixo, which is about four miles in circuit, with portions 

 of ground appropriated to the production of various necessaries of life, is five 

 leagues to the south-west of Cape St. Augustine, and a mile distant from the 

 continent. 



Ports. — No province has so great a mimber of ports, though the generality 

 of them are only capable of receiving smacks and small craft. The principal 

 ones are the before-mentioned Catuama; the Recife, which will be described 

 jointly with the town of that name; the Tamandare, which is the best of the 

 whole, in the form of a bay within the river so called. It is securely defended 

 by a large fort, and capable of receiving a fleet, being four and five fathoms 

 deep at the entrance, and six within. It lies ten leagues south-west of Cape 

 St. Augustine. 



Jaragua and Pajussara are separated by a point which gives name to the first, 

 where vessels anchor in the summer. The latter one can only be used in 



