PROVINCE OF PARA. 



407 



almost wholly inhabited by the posterity of the Aborigines, divided into various 

 nations. The most northern tribes have some intercourse with the christians of 

 the povao^oes, situated upon the margins of the rivers which limit the district, 

 and various individuals of them have embraced Christianity. The lands which 

 have been cultivated are fertile, and appropriated to a great variety of hortalans, 

 edible roots, Indian corn, rice, feijao, tobacco, cotton, the sugar cane, and 

 all the fruit trees of the climate. 



The cocoa shrub, or tree, grows spontaneously in various situations. In the 

 vicinities of the rivers the aspect of the woods is rendered agreeable by the 

 diversity and thickness of the trees. They are stored with birds and game^ 

 which are alike the resource of the indolent savages and the Christians, who 

 hitherto have not introduced the breed of cattle. 



Little is yet known relative to the mineralogy of this province, nor of the 

 genius or customs of the central and southern hordes of the natives. A great 

 number of rivers, many of crystaline waters, flow from the centre of this co- 

 marca into those which mainly surround it. 



The Annapu traverses the country from south to north, and discharges itself 

 in front of the island of Marajo by various mouths ; the principal one is spacious, 

 and forms a great bay within. After many days' voyage up this river, falls are 

 met with, and its bed is strewed with large stones. In the woods which border 

 it there are abundance of clove-trees of the country. 



The Pacajaz, properly Pacaya, has an extensive course through a stony 

 bed, and over many considerable falls, at certain distances. Four days' voyage 

 is required to arrive at the bar of the great river Iriuanna, which unites it on 

 the eastern bank, and a few leagues above the embouchure is the entrance of 

 the channel, which connects it with the Annapu. It runs east of the Annapu, 

 and takes the name of a nation which occupies its adjacent territory, where 

 there is great abundance of clove-trees. 



The river Jacundaz, or Hyacunda, is very large, affording an extensive 

 navigation, and discharges itself east of the Pacaya. The Araticu empties 

 itself east of the Hyacunda by a wide channel, which bathes the island of 

 Marago, on the south. 



The Areas, which runs into the Amazons, near the northern entrance of the 

 Tagypuru Strait, is navigable for a considerable distance, traversing woods, 

 growing upon extensive plains, and abounding with a variety of game. 



The Tacanhunas, so denominated from the tribe of Indians whose territory 

 it irrigates, enters the Tucantins, near the Itaboca. 



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