A VOYAGE TO 



occupies the country in the valley of St. Francisco^ 

 and on the heads of the Parana; it is estimated at six 

 or seven hundred miles in lengthy and nearly the same 

 in breadth. Its mines of gold and diamonds^ are pro- 

 bably the most productive in Brazil; and with the 

 mines of Cuyaba, to the westward^ contribute chiefly 

 to enable the city of Jiio Janeiro to outstrip St. Sal- 

 vador, the former capital. "The mining districts/^ 

 says Mawe, "being most populous^ required the 

 greatest proportion of consumable goods, and in re- 

 turn, send the most valuable articles of commerce; 

 hence innumerable troops of mules are coatinually 

 travelling to and from those districts; their commoa 

 burden is about three hundred weight each, which they 

 carry to the almost incredible distance of fifteen hun- 

 dred to two thousand miles.'^ The province of Goyaz, 

 still further west, occupies the valley of the Tocantine, 

 and extends from six to twenty-one degrees, south. 

 This province, like most of those in the interior of this 

 immense country, is also possessed of valuable mines. 

 Its distance from the coast enables it to carry on very 

 little commerce; its agricultural produce being too ex- 

 pensive to be transported in any great quantities. 

 They depend chiefly on the produce of their mines, 

 which is usually carried to Rio Janeiro, to procure 

 the articles they want, such as salt, iron, cotton prints, 

 woollens, (particularly baizes,) hats, fire arms, powder 

 and shot, and hardware of every kind. When they 

 have any thing sufficiently valuable, over and above 

 procuring these articles, they lay it out in the purchase 

 of negroes, whom they make great exertions to pro- 

 cure. This province, is, however, very little known, 

 but has the character of being a fine country, possess- 



