432 



PROVINCE OF PIAUHY. 



elapsed, the whole deserted : they were, however, subsequently re-conquered, 

 and re-established in the same place, which has ever since been going into a state 

 of decay. 



The parish of the Lady of Merces, whose first inhabitants were mainly 

 Jahico Indians, lies between the Itahim, and the small river Guaribas. All the 

 parishioners live dispersed, the vicar being the only resident near the church, 

 which is about seventy miles from the capital. 



The two last parishes were created a few years ago, and formerly belonged 

 to that of the capital ; in whose extensive district there are yet to be re- 

 marked the chapel of Our Lady of Humildes, not far removed from the heads 

 of the Caninde ; that of St. Ignacio, near the same river, and thirty-five miles 

 from the capital ; that of St. Joam, near the origin of the Piauhy; and the Lady 

 of Nazareth, upon the margin of the said river, forty miles from Oeyras ; also 

 the Lady of Concei^ao, in the situation of Bocayna, near the small river 

 Guaribas. 



The considerable arraial of Poti, advantageously situated near the embouchure 

 of the river which affords it the name, has already some commerce, and might 

 easily become a considerable povoa9ao. All the people are within the diocese 

 of the bishop of Maranham, who has a vicar-general at Oeyras. The literary 

 subsidy, as it is denominated, arising from an impost upon cattle in this province, 

 is important enough. But there was not till within this few years a single royal 

 professor, as they are so imposingly styled, in any part of it, for either the primitive 

 letters or Latin ; but instead of any knowledge of the classics being diffused 

 amongst the population of the Brazil, by these titled masters, it is altogether 

 unlettered ; in fact, I have seen some of those royal preceptors unattended by a 

 single pupil. 



