SOUTH AMERICA. . , 17S 



The province of St. Paul, whose trade is chiefly 

 dependent on the metropolis, not being situated itself 

 on the sea coast, exports sugar, coffee, cattle, hogs, 

 &c. It also has a considerable trade with the in- 

 terior provinces of Minas and Matto Grosso; it has 

 some manufactures of cotton cloths. 



Kio Grande exports beef, hides, and tallow, to a 

 great amount, probably not less than three millions of 

 dollars. The exports of beef and tallow, are how- 

 ever principally to Rio, Bahia, and Pernambuco. 

 This province formerly exported, and supplied the 

 others on the sea coast, with flour and wheat; but for 

 the last two years, there has been no export of conse- 

 quence, raising scarcely sufficient for the supply of the 

 troops which have been thrown into the southern part 

 of Brazil, for the purpose of keeping up the war with 

 Artigas. 



To speak of the different mines of Brazil, with the 

 minuteness which their number and importance de- 

 serve, would require itself a volume. Next to the 

 possessions of Spain, those of Portugal exceed all 

 other countries of the world in mineral wealth. Im- 

 mense sums have been drawn from the gold mines 

 since their first discovery by the inhabitants of St. 

 Paul, in 1557. They were formerly placed under 

 great restrictions, but at present they are thrown open 

 to every person who chooses to search for, or work 

 them, on paying the established duty to the king. 

 Mawe has given us much interesting information as to 

 the manner of working the different mines. It appears 

 that their produce has much diminished, at least there 

 are none now worked that produce gold in such aston- 

 ishing abundance as the mines of Villa Rica. They are 



