440 



PROVINCE OF MARANHAM. 



sustaining Ceres, has here but little influence, and rice only is cultivated, but to 

 a very great extent ; the soil is equally well adapted to the produce of Indian 

 corn. The irregularity of the seasons does not permit the cultivation of wheat, 

 rye, or barley. Water-melons, melons, and pine-apples are excellent. The 

 indigenous banana tree produces fruit in immense profusion and of the best 

 quality. 



Zoology. — Cattle, sheep, and goats multiply here better than in the coun- 

 tries from which they were imported, but do not improve in size nor in the 

 flavQur of their meat, neither are they very numerous, with the exception of the 

 first. Mules are bred here, also hogs, equal to the consumption of the country. 

 All the species of wild animals are met with, peculiar to the eastern provinces. 

 The moco is numerous in all parts. The birds of the plains, woods, and lakes, 

 known in the other districts, are common here ; and the handsome ^wam abound 

 in the proximity of the sea. There is in this part of South America a particular 

 species of silk worm, more prolific than the ordinary kinds of Bombay or Per- 

 sia. The colour of the silk is a dark yellow, and might be rendered a consi- 

 derable branch of commerce, in consequence of the facility which would attend 

 its abundant cultivation, if any adequate attention was afforded to it. The 

 insect receives its nourishment from leaves of the orange and the pine tree, or 

 atta, which is common in its native country. 



All the territory lying between the rivers Itapicuru and the Parnahyba has 

 been for many years evacuated by the Indians, as well as the northern part of 

 that to the west of the first river, and is more or less inhabited by whites, and 

 Christianized Indians, mainly occupied in the cultivation of mandioca, Indian 

 corn, and legumes, and above all in the two vegetable articles of exportation, 

 rice and cotton, almost all the labour being performed by the hands of negroes, 

 who exceed by many times the number of the others. Families live for the most 

 part dispersed. A certain proportion of land, where each cultivator dwells, 

 generally with all his family and slaves, is of itself considered an aldeia. There 

 are few aldeias compared with the extent of the province, having any consider- 

 able number of families, with the exception of those which have been created 

 parishes, many comprising sixty miles or more of district. Excellent nets used 

 for sleeping, and some coarse cottons, made into dresses, generally for slaves, 

 are manufactured here. 



The southern portion of the western district of this province is still in the pos- 

 session of the Indians, as well as a great extent of the central part. The most 

 northern tribe, bordering upon the Portuguese, are called by them the Gamel- 



