146 



JOURNEY 



FROM VILLA DE ST. 



SALVADOR 



zone are sometimes swollen ; for the river all at once rose to such a 

 height as almost to overflow its banks : it is, however, always rather 

 more considerable than the Itabapuana. The mountains from which 

 it descends are seen at a great distance with remarkable jagged peaks : 

 they are called Serra de Itapemirim. They are celebrated for the works 

 for washing gold, called Minas de Castello, formerly established in 

 their neighbourhood, live days' journey up the river. That district 

 was however so disturbed by the Tapuyas, that the few Portuguese 

 settlers left it about thirty years ago, and took up their abode in the 

 town and its vicinity. The country higher up the Itapemirim is in- 

 habited by the rude hordes of the Tapuyas, but chiefly by the Puris, 

 and as the inhabitants assert, by another savage tribe, whom they call 

 Maracas : the murder at Ciri is attributed to these last. The Botocu- 

 dos however, who are the real tyrants of these wildernesses, still make 

 excursions to a considerable distance down the river. It is related 

 that after a great noise and outcry had been heard in the neighbouring 

 forest, by the inhabitants of afaze7icla situated on the river Muriah6, 

 some wounded Puris came and sought protection from the Portuguese, 

 saying that the Botocudos had attacked and killed many of their 

 people. From all these circumstances it is evident at any rate, that 

 these forests are full of independent, hostile savages. The Tapuyas 

 are stated to have killed forty-three Portuguese settlers on the Itape- 

 mirim, within fifteen years. A road has however been opened through 

 these dangerous wilds, which leads from the Minas de Castello to the 

 frontier of Minas Geraes, about twenty-two leagues distant. 



The Captain Mor of the district gave us a very kind reception, 

 after we produced our passports; he sent an abundant supply of 

 provisions, wood, water and all other necessaries, to our dwelling, for 

 which we thanked him in person at his fazenda. This country-house 

 lies on the river, surrounded with beautiful meadows, in which a 

 great number of cattle of all kinds were grazing. 



