SOUTH AMERICA. 



I6i 



destined to hold the highest rank among commercial 

 nations. The possessions of Portugal may be said to 

 occupy both shores of the Atlantic. The distance 

 from Cape St. Roque to the nearest point on the 

 African continent, is estimated at five hundred 

 leagues. 



To give an idea of the interior is not easy, when 

 we consider how little of it has been described with 

 accuracy. Some cf the bolder features we may ven- 

 ture to delineate. It has already been said, that its 

 surface is in general mountainous, with the exception 

 of the vast plains, of what width is not accurately 

 known, stretching along the right bank of the Ama- 

 zon. The great ridges of mountains have generally 

 been ascertained with some accuracy. From what I 

 have seen and heard, these mountains bear a greater 

 resemblance to those of the West Indies than to the 

 I Alleghanies. Their summits are generally covered 

 I with lofty forest trees, and their sides in most places 

 with a fertile soil. In fact the prevailing character of 

 I Brazil, is that of a perennial forest, where nature 

 i multiplies her productions with a most lavish profu- 

 sion. The most remarkable mountains are those of 

 Borborema, to the north; of Mantequera, in the pro- 

 vince Minas; those of Aymores, and those of Man- 

 gabeira. The first great range commences at the 

 I northern extremity of the province of Bahia, and 

 stretches along the coast as far as St. Catherines, 

 generally about the distance of one hundred and fifty 

 miles. The length is about the same with our Alle- 

 ghanies, but they heave a greater extent of territory than 

 is occupied by our Atlantic states from Maine to Geor- 

 gia. Many fine rivers flow over this inclined plain, 



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