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CHAP. V. 



Description of St. Paul's. — System of Farming prevalent in its 

 Neighbourhood. — Excursion to the Gold Mines of Jaragua : — 

 Mode of working them. — Return to Santos. 



QT. PAUL'S is situated on a pleasing eminence of about two 

 miles in extent, surrounded on three sides by low meadow 

 land, and washed at the base by rivulets, which almost insulate it in 

 rainy weather ; it is connected with the high-land by a narrow ridge. 

 The rivulets flow into a pretty large stream called the Tieti, which 

 runs within a mile of the town in a south-west direction. Over them 

 there are several bridges, some of stone and others of wood, built 

 by the late governor. The stieets of St. PauFs, owing to its eleva- 

 tion (about 50 feet above the plain), and the water which almost 

 surrounds it, are in general remarkably clean ; the material with 

 which they are paved, is lamillary grit-stone, cemented by oxide of 

 iron, and containing large pebbles of rounded quartz, approxi- 

 mating to the conglomerate. This pavement is an alluvial formation 

 containing gold, many particles of which metal are found in the 

 chinks and hollows after heavy rains, and at such seasons are dili- 

 gently sought for by the poorer sort of people. 



This city was founded by the Jesuits, who were probably tempted 

 by the gold mines in the vicinity, more than by the salubrity of its 

 air, which however is not excelled by any on the whole continent 

 of South America. The medium of the thermometer here is be- 

 tween 50 and 80 degrees; in a morning I have observed it at 48, 

 and even lower, though I was not there in the winter months. The 

 rains are by no means heavy or of long continuance, and the thunder- 

 storms are far from being violent. The cold in the evenings was 



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