NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



united their waters at a place much above the present embochure. 

 When their banks were the property of the Jesuits, they were connected 

 together by a good and useful canal. In the time of the regency an 

 attempt was made, by government, to construct a town between them ; 

 but the project withered under the paralyzing touch of men in whom 

 self-interest mounts far above all considerations of public advantage. 



The real line of division between the two mentioned provinces runs, 

 I believe, from near the point of Joatmga, along the heights, to the head 

 of the Jacuy, and down that river until it join the Parahyba. Within the 

 province of Rio ought to be included the small stream of Mambucaba, 

 all the islands which are scattered in the Western part of the bay of 

 Angra, or Guandu, and even the village of Paraty, upon the main land. 

 In British maps this boundary is frequently laid down more to the 

 Eastward. 



Soon after passing the mouth of the Taguahy, the shore becomes 

 exceedingly bold ; lofty piles of Granite raise their conical heads to the 

 clouds, while between their bases numerous streams pour into the ocean, 

 whose beds are too rugged, or too shallow, to admit any vessel larger 

 than a canoa to ascend them wdth safety. Numbers of islets are scattered 

 irregularly over the glassy plain, as various in their form and appearance 

 as in their position ; some of them being naked rocks, others beautifully 

 verdant, a few crowned with forests, planted with the sugar cane and 

 coffee trees, and adorned with white- washed buildings. Altogether they 

 present many points of view pleasing, not in themselves alone, but in 

 their singular variety. 



The interior of this country is as mountainous and broken as any 

 part of Brazil ; yet much of the land is rich, and its crops of coffee are 

 abundant. It is thinly inhabited by a hardy and industrious race, who 

 only want roads to convey their produce to the coast, or to a market ; a 

 want not likely to be soon supplied. Paraty, situated on the coast, 

 enjoys a considerable commerce with the capital ; its rum, particularly, is 

 in great request. To the North-east, twenty-five miles distant, is the 

 village of Angra, once the chief town of the province, now fallen into 



