PROVINCE OF PARA, 



457 



puted from this situation to the mouth of the Madeira. In the space of the first 

 two hundred the traveller encounters twelve cataracts, equally astonishing 

 for their grandeur and extent. The attention is first arrested by that which has 

 the same denomination as the river, and not far below the island of rock 

 alluded to. Three of the falls are within the space of a mile and a half The 

 canoes advancing up the river are unloaded and conveyed in this state, including 

 the different points, for half a mile. The Misericordia next follows, about two 

 miles lower down, and the danger and labour of passing it depends upon the 

 height or diminution of the waters of the river. Proceeding along another 

 interval of the same space, the four cataracts of Reibeirao meet the astonished 

 eye within the distance of four miles. Canoes are here for a considerable way 

 dragged over land. 



Twelve miles further is the Figueira, otherwise Araras, formed by small 

 islands and large stones, but of no considerable extent. 



Upwards of twenty miles further is the Pederneiras, where the river is thickly 

 overspread with immense stones, obhging the cargoes of the canoes to be 

 carried on men's shoulders for nearly half a mile. 



Descending ten miles more the Paredao is met with, where the course of the 

 river is contracted, and its waters precipitated among rocks for a short space. 



The Tres Irmaos (Three Brothers) is the next, about twenty miles further, 

 formed by various falls, generally small, for the distance of near a mile. 



Twenty-five miles lower is the Girau, where the river flows with great rapidity, 

 separated among rocks and precipitated over five falls in a short distance. The 

 canoes are here also carried over land. 



Five miles further is the Caldeirao de Inferno, (the Infernal Cauldron,) three 

 miles in extent, forming, in a certain situation, a most perilous whirlpool, 

 which requires much vigilance and labour to the navigator. 



Eighteen miles beyond the preceding is the fall of Morinhos, so called from 

 three small morros, or rocks, a short distance from the western margin, covered 

 with sarsaparilla. 



Passing an interval of twelve miles the interesting fall, denominated the Salto 

 do Theotonio is next presented for contemplation, being an accumulation of 

 rugged rock, twenty-six feet in height, broken into four parts, dividing the 

 waters of the Madeira into as many channels, each having the appearance of a 

 large river. Parallel with this majestic sluice a reef of rock extends from the 

 eastern margin almost to the western, impelling the volume of waters of three 



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