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PROVINCE OF PARAHIEA. 



There are no islands upon the coast of this province but in the mouths of 

 rivers or the entrances of bays, and they are generally small. 



Ports, — That within the river Parahiba is the most frequented. The bay of 

 Traicao, originally Acejutibiro, in the form of a half moon, with three entran- 

 ces formed by two small islands, almost eight miles in width, having a small 

 river at the extremity, is deemed the best port of the province, and capable of 

 receiving a considerable number of small vessels. The northern entrance is 

 almost two miles in width. From this bay a reef extends nearly eighteen miles 

 to Cape Branco, between which and the beach there are nine and ten fathoms 

 of depth, where vessels anchor in smooth water, protected from the agitation 

 of the ocean by this recife, which is a portion of the celebrated chain extending 

 along the coast, elevating its head occasionally above the water, as at Per- 

 nambuco, and in other latitudes. 



The bay of Lucena, on the northern side of the point of the same name, is 

 large, with a good anchorage, but is exposed to winds prevailing from north to 

 east. 



Rivers. — The Parahiba, from which the province takes its name, originates 

 in the district of the Cayriris Velhos, in the skirts of the serra of Jabitaca, near 

 the source of the Capibaribe, runs to the east-north-east, and is considerable 

 only in the vicinity of the ocean, into which it is discharged by two mouths, 

 separated by the island of St. Bento, which is about three miles in extent. As 

 the territory in which it rises is of a sandy nature, it becomes a stream in that 

 district only during the period of the rains, nor does it receive till after half its 

 course, any of those tributary currents which render it navigable for a consider- 

 able space. Ships advance up only a few miles, sumacas to the capital, and 

 canoes as far as the town of Pilar. From hence upwards, its bed is stony, 

 with many falls and currents rendering difficult or entirely impeding navigation. 

 It does not abound in any part w ith tish. In the proximity of the sea it is wide 

 and handsome, the margins being adorned with mangroves. 



The Guarahu, which is the largest of its confluents, unites it on the left, not 

 far from the capital. 



The Mamanguape, which is handsome, and affords an advantageous naviga- 

 tion to the planters upon its adjacent lands, enters the ocean by two mouths, 

 divided by a flat island covered with mangroves, between which and the chain 

 of reefs, which arrests all the fury of the sea, there is an excellent anchorage 

 place, where vessels lie in dead water, to which a narrow aperture amongst the 



