AND JOURNEY TO THE RIO DOCE. 



185 



fine scenery and remarkable productions, the naturalist finds employ- 

 ment for a long time, and the most diversified pleasures. But the 

 fruits of his researches would be more considerable, if he could tra- 

 verse without impediment and without danger, these still unexplored 

 forests. It is said that it is not easy to find more delightful prospects 

 than, for instance, that of the Lagoa de Juparancm* ; an extensive 

 lake not far from Linhares, connected with the north side of the river 

 by a narrow channel. This beautiful lake is mentioned by the early 

 writers. Sebastian Fernandez Tourinho, who first sailed up the Rio 

 Doce in 1572, states that he met with a lake to the westward, which 

 is probably this lagoa ; only the direction of the rivulet falling into 

 the river does not agree, nor does the waterfall ; and the distances 

 also are different. 



Mr. Freyreiss, who again visited Linhares some months later, 

 communicated to me the following account of his visit to this lagoa, 

 which I give in his own words. 



" A channel, which is seldom above sixty feet broad, but deep, 

 and about a league and a half in length, leads to the great lake, 

 which abounds in fish. The banks of this channel are still the 

 abode of the Botocudos, formerly called Aymores, who had about 

 the middle of the channel a passage by means of creeping plants, 

 which the Portuguese improperly called a bridge. This bridge was 

 cut through by the Portuguese several years ago, and the savages 

 have not endeavoured to repair it, or make a new one ; deceived by 

 this circumstance, the inhabitants became imprudently incautious, 

 when some Botocudos suddenly appeared before the second station of 



* The word Juparanan, or properly Juparand, is not derived from the language of the 

 Botocudos, who inhabit these parts, but from the Lingoa gerul; and Parana signifies a sea 

 or great water. This lagoa is not marked in Arrowsmith's map. Faden has noted it under 

 its right name, but not placed it in its true situation. 



