( 267 ) 



CHAP. XVI. 



General View of Minas Geraes. 



HE capitania of Minas Geraes extends from 600 to 700 miles 



from north to south, and about the same distance from east to 

 west. It is bounded on the north by the capitania of Bahia ; on the 

 west by that of Goyaz ; on the south by the river Paraibuna, which 

 divides it from the capitania of Rio de Janeiro. It is separated from 

 the district of Espiritu Santo and the coast by an immense chain of 

 mountains, which country, being inhabited by the Anthropophagi, is 

 of course very httle known. 



This capitania is estimated to contain three hundred and sixty 

 thousand inhabitants, of whom two hundred thousand are negroes, or 

 their immediate offspring. The population of Indians is not included 

 in this estimate, nor can it be ascertained ; they are considered 

 as by no means numerous, as they never make any opposition against 

 an armed force, however small. In the course of my journey I did 

 not see one, except the child at the village of Conceppao, nor did I 

 ever hear of any of them becoming civilized, or living in any of the 

 villages with the settled inhabitants*. 



The regular military establishment of the capitania is very respect- 

 able, and consists of 1400 cavalry, which number is prescribed by 



* From all accounts relative to the Indians, either by the officers employed against them, 

 and better acquainted with their habits than other men, or from any of the settlers who live 

 near the coast, it does not appear that they have the smallest knowledge of gold or of pre^- 

 cious stones y hence they can in no degree have contributed to the discovery of those trea- 

 sures in the district, 



M M 2 



