420 



PROVINCE OF SIARA. 



south of Aricaty, is a considerable town, with a church dedicated to the 

 Lady of Expecta<jao, a hermitage of Rozario, another of the Lord Bora Fira, 

 and a royal master of Latin. Its edifices are chiefly of wood, and its inhabit- 

 ants are much incommoded by the heat, reflected from a morro, or rock, near 

 it, and from whence a vast extent of the environs are viewed, abounding with 

 cattle. The river is well stored with fish, and is subject to floods, which inun- 

 date a considerable space of territory, that produces rice, Indian corn, feijao, 

 water-melons, and excellent melons ; but neither the plantain, nor any fruit 

 trees prosper in its Vicinity. Farinha and sugar are brought here from Cratto, 

 and salt from Assu. 



Lavras da Mangabeira, a parish created in 1813, is thirty-five miles above 

 Icco, of which it is a dismembered portion, and is upon the margin of the Sal- 

 gado. Its church is dedicated to St. Vincente Ferreyra, and its inhabitants 

 raise various necessaries of life, cotton, and cattle. 



Cratto, a town in a state of mediocrity, situated in a plain near a small 

 stream, that takes its name, being one of the heads of the Salgado, has a 

 church of the Lady of Penha, and is the most abundant town of the province. 

 Every fruit tree of the South American continent prospers in its fertile district, 

 and it has the advantage of running streams to irrigate the plantations, not ex- 

 cepting those of mandioca, when the rains fail, and to which may be attributed 

 the superabundance of the necessaries of life it always enjoys. The neighbour- 

 ing districts have recourse to them when they experience years of drought, and 

 the consequent deficiency of vegetation. Limes, citrons, bananas, and cab- 

 bages, are of an uncommon size. Diseases of the eyes and legs are here ende- 

 mical. Thunder showers commence in its vast district, which is a portion of 

 the Cayriris Novas, in October, and last till May. In certain months cold 

 nights are experienced. 



Thirty miles to the east-south-east is the parish of St. Joze, yet known by the 

 name of Missao Velha, (Old Mission.) Its numerous parishioners, generally 

 whites, cultivate mandioca, Indian corn, and the sugar cane. 



Bom Jardira was created a town by a law of the 30th of August, 1814, and 

 is a dismemberment of Missao Velha, made two years previously, which was 

 then the most populous parish of the province. It is fifty miles distant from 

 Cratto, and has a church of Bom Jesus. Sugar and cattle form the riches of 

 the inhabitants. 



The town of St. Bernardo, yet small, is situated near a small river, which 

 two miles lower joins the Jaguaribe on the western margin, thirty-five miles 



