160 



A VOYAGE TO 



mense open plains below tliem would otherwise be 

 subject; while at the same time the parts exposed 

 to the ocean are continually fanned by the unceasing 

 current of the trades.* 



Brazil contains upwards of two millions of square 

 miles, and when we consider the small proportion to 

 be deducted for lakes and marshes, or for excessive ri- 

 gor of climate as in the case of Russia, we may form 

 some idea of its s;reatnpss. Tt is washed on the north 

 for three thousand miles by the mighty course oP the 

 Amazon, and it has a sea coast of nearly twice the 

 extent of that of the United States. From the capital 

 to its northern extremity at the mouth of the Javari, 

 it is in a straight line, between three and four thou- 

 sand miles. From the Tlio Janeiro to Cuyaba, in the 

 province of Mato Grosso, the distance is upwards of a 

 thousand miles by land. No country is better sup- 

 plied with ports and harbors, those of Rio Janeiro, 

 and St. Salvador, are not surpassed, if equalled, by 

 any in the world; and those of Fara, Maranham, 

 Olenda, Faraiba, Seguro, Esoiritu, Santo, St. Cathe- 

 rine, Rio Grande, and many others. The position of 

 Brazil in relation to Europe, Asia, and Africa, 

 amongst those advantages usually pointed out by 

 those who seem to be of opinion that this country is 



* On the Paraguay, even as hip:h as latitude twenty-five, the 

 south-west wind is at times cold and piercins;, and in the Amazon 

 directly under the equator, a fact is related in the voyage of 

 Te^^eir down this river, which appears more singular than the 

 occurrence related by sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander, at the 

 southern ; extremity of the continent; while descending the Ama- 

 zon, it suddenly grew so cold, that the men were compelled to 

 change their clothing, and even then found it unpleasant. 



