PROVINCE OF SIARA. 



419 



middling town, and the residence of the governor ; the chapel, dedicated to the 

 Assumption of Our Lady, was the origin of its present name. It is the capital 

 of the province, and has a church of St. Joze de Ribamar. It is situated near 

 the beach, is surrounded with a sandy soil, and about seven miles to the north- 

 west of the embouchure of the river Siara, where it was first commenced at the 

 place now called Villavelha. It is the most ancient town in the province, and 

 the reputed city of Siara of Vosgien, possessing however no advantages that 

 woidd warrant the expectation of any great improvement of its present condi- 

 tion. The pine, or atta, is here very large, and its fruit delicious. In 1808 

 it received a Juiz de Fora, who is judge of all civil and criminal causes, also 

 auditor of war, judge of the custom-house, attorney-general, and deputy of 

 the junta of the treasury, which does not differ in its jurisdiction from any of 

 the others. The governor of this province touched at Pernambuco during my 

 stay there ; the term of his government had expired, and he was on his way to 

 Rio de Janeiro. This province cannot boast of any foreign commerce ; the 

 principal part of its produce has hitherto been sent by coasting vessels princi- 

 pally to Maranham ; and in like manner its internal demands have been sup- 

 plied. A respectable house of London have it in contemplation to form an 

 establishment here : this house has had for many years establishments at Rio 

 de Janeiro, Bahia, and Pernambuco. 



To the west of this town is the parish of Concei^ao d'Almofalla, whose 

 parishioners are whites, with some Tramembe Indians ; the whole cultivating 

 mandioca, legumes, and rice. In its district there are salt-pits. 



To the south of the preceding is the parish of Concei^ao d'Amontada, the 

 population of which, for the main part whites, cultivate the same productions, 

 and breed cattle. 



Aricaty, the largest, most populous, commercial, and flourishing town and 

 frequented port of the province, was created by John V. in 1723, and is situa- 

 ted on the eastern margin, eight miles above the mouth of the Jaguaribe, the 

 large floods of which river incommode a portion of its inhabitants. It has a 

 church dedicated to the Lady of Rozario, and four hermitages, with the titles 

 of Lord Jesus of Bom Fim, of Navigators, of the Lady of Livramento, and 

 of St. Gon^alo ; a professor of Latin ; good streets ; and many houses of one 

 story, with a great portion of them built of brick. Cotton and hides are its 

 principal exportations, 



Icco stands along the right margin of the river Salgado, a few leagues above 

 its mouth, one hundred miles north of Gratto, and near one hundred and eighty 



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