66 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



marsh of theXarayes, which is annually overflowed 

 by the banks of that river, during the rainy season, 

 were a numerous nation, skilled in navigation, 

 and very dangerous to the convoys of the colony, 

 especially when they crossed the Pantanaes. The 

 Guaycurus, an equally numerous and well-mounted 

 tribe, who resided in the grassy plains between the 

 rivers Embotatay and S. Lourenzo, attacked the 

 colonists in the settlements and mines ; and having 

 procured themselves some boats, they even pursued 

 the vessels of the Paulistas whenever they got sight 

 of them. The latter, therefore, gave up the navi- 

 gation of the Rio Embotatay (Imbotetei), which 

 was chiefly disturbed by the Payagoas, and follow- 

 ed the course of the Tacoary, which falls into the 

 Paraguay more to the north ; and this route was, 

 in the sequel, universally taken. For the same 

 reason, after the year 17^3, the boats of the Paul- 

 istas sailed together from the harbour of Porto 

 Feliz, at high water, after the rainy season (in the 

 months of February and March), in order to con- 

 vey to Cujaba the most important necessaries, pro- 

 visions, ammunition, and tools for working the 

 mines. Such flotillas often consisted of more than 

 a hundred canoes, accompanied by a military escort. 

 Yet, even these considerable expeditions were at- 

 tacked, in the first years, by the warlike Indians ; 

 and only the increasing population of the gold dis- 

 trict was able to keep them gradually in awe. The 

 discovery and the working of the rich gold mine» 



