TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



19^ 



scarcely more than four-and-twenty arrobas. For 

 the purposes of smelting, sixty arrobas of corrosive 

 sublimate of mercury are annually purchased from 

 Europe, of which the arroba costs sixty thousand 

 rees. Even the vessels of graphite, in which the ore 

 is smelted, are manufactured in Europe, though this 

 material abounds near Barreiras, in Minas Novas. 

 Attempts have been made to manufacture such 

 crucibles in Mesquita, near Villa Rica, but they 

 could not bear a white heat. In consideration, it is 

 supposed^ of the metallic treasures of this country 

 and the possibility of appropriating them, a pro- 

 hibition was issued, under the administration of 

 Pombal, of the foundation of convents, or a 

 permanent residence of monks in the whole pro- 

 vince of Minas Geraes, a prohibition which is even 

 now strictlv enforced. 



The Indians formerly possessed all these rich 

 parts of the province, but were soon expelled, al- 

 most everywhere, by the colonists in their search 

 of gold. Those who are still in Minas Geraes, 

 have gradually retired into the impenetrable forests 

 which cover the Serra do Mar, which runs along 

 the sea-coast, extending inland to the breadth of 

 thirty to fifty miles. These are the tribes of the 

 Coroados, Coropos, Puris, Botocudos (Aimores), 

 Macuanis, Malalis, Panhames, Men hams, Paraib^s 

 (Goytacazes?). On the western side of the capitania, 

 beyond the Rio de S. Francisco, detached wantto*^ 

 ing troops of Cayapos are sometimes seen. These 



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