174 



STAY AT CAPITANIA, 



had fallen a little. It is only in the winter months, principally in 

 December, that it is so considerable : at other times, especially after 

 a long continuance of dry weather, sand-banks appear every where 

 in the middle of it ; but at present no trace of them was to be seen. 

 Its mouth is therefore never accessible ; and large vessels cannot enter 

 it on account of the shoals and sand-banks ; nor even lanchas, except 

 when the water is at the highest. The Rio Doce rises in the capitania 

 of Minas Geraes, where it is formed by the junction of the Rio Pi- 

 ranga with the Ribeirao do Carmo : for it is after this junction that 

 it assumes the name of the Rio Doce. It runs through a considerable 

 extent of country, and forms several small falls, three of which, suc- 

 ceeding each other at small intervals, are called the Escadinhas. The 

 banks of the beautiful river are covered with thick forests, which are 

 the haunt of a great number of different animals. Here are frequently 

 found the ant a or American tapir, two kinds of wild swine, ( dico- 

 tyles, Cuvier,) the peccary or cai/tetu, and the porco a quechada bra?ica^ 

 ( taytetu and tagnicati of Azara,) two species of deer (the gua- 

 zupita and guazuhira of Azara), and above seven varieties of the 

 cat kind, among which the spotted ounce (yaguarete, Azara) and 

 the black tiger (yaguarete noir, Azara) are the largest and most 

 dangerous. But the rude savage Botocudo, the aboriginal inhabitant 

 of this country, is far more formidable than all those beasts of prey, 

 and the terror of these impenetrable forests. This part of the country 

 is still very thinly peopled, so that there is still no communication 

 kept up, except along the river. A few weeks ago indeed, a forest- 

 path, here called picade, was opened along the south bank, but it is 

 very far from being completed, and on account of the savages, not to 

 be passed except by such as are well provided with arms. The Conde 

 de Linhares, late minister of state, had - particularly directed his at- 

 tention to this fertile and beautiful country. He established new 

 military stations, and built the village, now called after him Linhares, 



