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duce of Para be an object of interest, as a cargo is at all times very 

 precarious, and difficult to be obtained. S 

 The climate is hot, as may well be supposed, from its lying so near 

 the equinoctial. Thunder, with hghtning and rain, occur generally 

 every afternoon, which cool the air very much, and render the heat 

 less disagreeable. 



On conversing with creditable men who had lived many years at 

 Para, Maranham, and upon the coast, I never heard them relate th^ 

 strange accounts of the Indians which Estalla has related. As a 

 Spaniard, he seems to be amusing the public with the actions of his 

 own countrymen in Chilis and to aim, in common with all the writers 

 of his nation, to prejudice the world against the Portugueze. 



The capitania of Gojaz is bounded chiefly by Minas Geraes on 

 the east, Matto G rosso on the west, and Para on the north. Its 

 greatest extent in length is from lat. 6° south to 21*^. Villa Boa, its 

 principal town, is situated in lat. 16* south, about eighty leagues to 

 the west of ParacatCi, from whence there is a good road. Here is a 

 permutation-house, where all the gold found in the capitania is per- 

 muted. The governor is elected for three years, after which he is 

 generally appointed to Bahia or Minas Geraes. In the capitania 

 are many gold-mines, some of which produce gold of a very fine 

 quality. Diamonds have been found in some parts, which are dif- 

 ferent in their appearance from those found in Cerro do Frio, having 

 more brilliancy on their exterior ; but they are in general not of so 

 pure a water, though of a very desirable size. As this fine district is 

 so distant from the coast, it has very little commerce in any of its 

 productions, except the valuable substances above-mentioned, and 

 cattle, which are bred on the frontiers ; also some cotton, and occa- 

 sionally a few peculiar articles, which are sent to Rio de Janeiro. 

 The mules on the return-journey are all loaded with salt, iron, cheap 

 cotton-prints, woollens (particularly baizes), hats, fire-arms, powder 

 and shot, and a variety of artificers' tools. When any of the inha- 

 bitants have any thing peculiarly precious to dispose of, they gene- 



