422 



PROVINCE OF SIARA. 



stimulus to its agriculture. The Indians otf the town, with those who are dis- 

 tributed through its district, form eighteen companies of militia. 



At a distance of about thirty miles is the parish of St. Pedro de Bayapinna, 

 upon the same serra. Its inhabitants are whites and Indians, whose produc- 

 tions are the same as the preceding. 



Villa Nova d' el Rey, (New Town of the King,) formerly Campo Grande, is 

 situated upon the serra Cocos, which is a portion of the Hibiapaba, and near 

 the origin of the small river Macambyra, and was founded for the habitation 

 of a horde of Christianized Indians, of which there are few remaining. In 

 consequence of the fertility of the country, the excellence of the waters, and 

 the salubrity of the air, many whites are attracted here. It is seventy miles to 

 the south-east of Villa Vi<^osa, has a church of the Lady of Prazeres, with en- 

 virons rich in plantations of mandioca, the cane, and cotton. About twenty- 

 five miles from it is the church of St. Gon^alo, whose parishioners live dispersed 

 upon the same serra, and cultivate the same productions. 



Campo Maior de Quixeramoby is a considerable and abundant town, with a 

 handsome church of St. Antonio, and situated one hundred and thirty miles to 

 the south of Aricaty, on the margin of the river which affords its name, with 

 large numbers of cattle in its vicinity, constituting the principal property of the 

 inhabitants. 



Aquiraz, which is about four miles distant from the sea, and eighteen from 

 the capital to the south-east, upon the eastern margin of the Pacoty, and a 

 mile from the lake which affords it the name, is a middling town with some 

 commerce, and a church dedicated to St. Joze. 



Montemor o Novo is situated upon the serra of Botarite, having a church of 

 the Lady of Palma, and is about one hundred and thirty miles to the south of 

 the capital. The inhabitants respire a salubrious air, have the advantage of 

 good water, and form plantations of the mandioca and the cane. A few leagues 

 north of the preceding is the parish of the Lady of Concei^ao of Montemor o 

 Velho, the inhabitants of which are whites and Indians, which latter are dimi- 

 nishing, as in other places, with the augmentation of the first. 



Mecejanna is ten miles to the south-east of the capital, near a lake, having a 

 church of the Lady of Concei^ao. 



Soure, situated near the eastern margin of the river Siara, fifteen miles from 

 the sea, and the same distance from the capital, has a church dedicated to 

 May de Deos. 



