TO THE RIO GRANDE DE BELMONTE. 



267 



only. Here is a mined Jesuits' convent, the church of which is, how- 

 ever, still used. The villa has from 40 to 50 houses, aud about 500 

 inhabitants: it exports about a thousand alquieras of mandiocca 

 flour, and some planks. A little further up, the ouvidor has establish- 

 ed the station of Aguiar, where there are six Indians, who are said 

 already to export 500 alquieras of mandiocca flour. 



Several small rivers join the Porto Seguro, or Buranhem, which is 

 likewise called the Rio da Caxoeira, and among others is the Patatiba. 

 From this junction to the mouth, which it reaches after a course of 

 about three leagues, it bears the name of Ambas as Agoas. 



We staid some time at Porto Seguro, in order to make ourselves 

 acquainted with the place and its neighbourhood; and then continued 

 our journey northwards, along the coast, the road along the strand 

 being the only one, and none whatever leading into the country. Our 

 tr^opa had to ford se\'eral little rivers, which, at low water, are quite 

 insignificant, but at flood-tide are impassable. They are known by 

 the names of Rio das Mangues, and Barra de Mutari. The horizon, 

 on the land-side, was bounded by hills covered w ith dark forests ; and 

 the cocoa-palms rising above them, indicated at a distance the ha- 

 bitations lying concealed in their bosom. 



The inhabitants of these parts still frequently speak of an attack 

 made upon them about twenty-two years ago, by a couple of French 

 frigates, the crews of which landed for the purpose of plundering the 

 places in this neighbourhood. With a standard carried before them, 

 a numerous and savage troop advanced towards Santa Cruz, but the 

 inhabitants flew to arms, and posted themselves behind the thickets 

 on the sea coast ; their well directed fire killed several of the enemy, 

 and wounded others; upon which the marauders hastily re-embarked, 

 after having first murdered, out of revenge, a single wanderer, who, 

 unsuspicious of harm, was accidentally passing that way. 



At tlie shallow, sandy mouth of the Mutari, we found a flock of 



