540 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



understanding the marks set up for themselves by persons who are 

 in the habit of traversing these shoals. 



The Inhomerim is a fine river, running in a deep bed, and with a 

 sluggish current, among high rugged lands, and bold rocky masses, in 

 • many cases separated from each other by broad swamps. Notwithstanding 

 the unfavourable appearance of its shores, and those of its tributary 

 streams, of which there are several, they are well cultivated. At its 

 mouth it is two hundred yards wide ; having ascended it about three 

 leagues and a half, we found it not more than seventy. At this point 

 stands the village of Porto D'Estrella, interesting from its busy occupation. 

 Though it has not many houses, some of them are uncommonly good 

 ones. The church stands on a round precipitous hill, about two hundred 

 feet above the level of the water, and has an advantage in situation, 

 which it wants in point of size, commanding extensive views of rich 

 plains towards the South and West, and of mountains covered with forests 

 to the North. It is more material, that there are here two quays and 

 suitable warehouses, from which is embarked for the capital, most of 

 the produce of the interior. As the principal roads of the country begin 

 or terminate at this spot, here also are landed and loaded on the backs of 

 mules, all the goods which are destined for the Northern part of the 

 Capitania of Rio de Janeiro, for Minas Geraes, Mato-Grosso, and Goyaz, 

 for places, some of which are fifteen hundred or two thousand miles 

 distant. The village is, in consequence, full of mules, their drivers^ 

 and people collected from almost every part of the central provinces ; 

 the sides of the river are crowded with Saveiros ; new lands are enclosed 

 and cultivated, new^ societies formed, and the people advance in know- 

 ledge and civilization. 



The first time I visited this spot, since which several years are 

 elapsed, we found the inhabitants so rude, that we thought it prudent 

 to haul off from the village, to sleep on our arms aboard, and to appoint 

 a centinel for the night. We were also plagued with musquitoes beyond 

 all reasonable endurance. Since that period I have received here all the 

 attentions which a stranger is entitled to expect, and enjoyed a variety 



