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CHAP. IX. 



Description of Canta Gallo. — Of the Gold-washing of Santa Rita. 

 — Account of the supposed Silver-Mine. 



/^ANTA GALLO, though so near the seat of government, was 



not known until about twenty years ago. It is situated in the ' 

 midst of a fine well-wooded country, abounding in springs, and in- 

 tersected by narrow valle3^s and ravines. The bottoms of some of 

 these ravines formerly contained gold, which was accidentally dis- 

 covered by some grimperos * from Minas Geraes, in the course of 

 their searches about the great river Paraiba, and the Rio Pumba. 

 The richness of these beds of gold, and the fertihty of the circum- 

 jacent country, attracted numbers of adventurers, who placed them- 

 selves under the direction, of an able chieftain, named Mao de 

 Luva, on account of his having lost one hand, and his wearing a 

 stuffed glove in its place. The band soon amounted to two or three 

 hundred persons, who washed every part in the neighbourhood 

 worth washing, before they were discovered. Being very determined 

 men, they lived free of control, and bade defiance to the laws. It , 

 was not until about three years after their first settlement, that the , 

 existing government was apprised of them ; when, alarmed at the ^ 

 report of their numbers, which was doubtless exaggerated, they sent 

 out spies to discover their rendezvous. This, after much time and 

 great difficulty, was effected ; the spies, in wandering through the 

 solitary woods and fastnesses in the neighbourhood, were attracted 



* A name given to those persons who go about the country seeking gold-washings, and 

 do not give notice, or solicit a grant when they discover any. They are considered and 

 treated as smugglers, 



