478 



PROVINCE OF SOLIMOES. 



bahunilha, or vanilla, inhumes, (growing like potatoes,) potatoes, and a variety 

 of fruits: how^ever, these articles will not prosper equally in all parts. Domestic 

 cattle are universally in small numbers, and their augmentation depends upon 

 the Christian portion of population, which, at present, is very inconsiderable. 

 Nothing satisfactory is known of the mineralogy of the province ; but it appears 

 natural that the minerals peculiar to the adjoining provinces should also be 

 found here. 



The five following large rivers, Hyutahy, Hyurba, Teffe, Coary, and Puru, 

 which traverse the province from south to north, with the Madeira and Hya- 

 bary, divide it into six districts of unequal size, and almost of the same length 

 from north to south : each one takes the name of the river that serves for its 

 western limit. We will describe the above districts according to the following 

 order : — 



Puru Teffe Hyutahy 



Coary Hyurba Hyabary. 



The principal povoa9oes, or towns, of these districts, four having only one 

 each, another two, and the last three, were founded by the Slippered Carma- 

 lites. Condamine, the French writer, says, " Toute la partie dScouverte des 

 bords de Rio Negro est peuple de missions Portugaises, des mimes religieux du 

 Mont Carmel que nous avions rencontres en descendant VAmazone, depuis que nous 

 avions laisse les missions Espagnoles.'' 



District of Puru. 



Puru, which lies between the Madeira, and the river from which it derives 

 its name, has been more explored than any of the contiguous districts, and 

 enjoys the best situation for commerce. From its centre various other con- 

 siderable rivers flow into the three which form its confines. The Capanna and 

 the Uhautas are the largest amongst those which run to the Madeira. 



The Capanna empties itself one hundred and forty miles above the town of 

 Borba, after having traversed a considerable lake, which receives divers small 

 streams, and from whence there is also an outlet to the river Puru. Its en- 

 virons are inhabited by the Catauixi and Itatapriya Indians, who are great 

 hunters and fishers. 



The Uhautas, which has a course of fifty miles, discharges itself fifteen 

 miles from Borba, and originates in a lake of the same name, which is vast 

 and studded with islands that are overspread with the clove-tree. 



From this lake, which is the receptacle of various small streams, two other 



