It will be therefore preferable, in the delineation of this province, to follow nature, which has divided it into six cantos, not varying essentially in extent, and marked by visible boundaries. A line drawn from the mouth of the Parannahiba by its bed to the confluence of the river Annicuns, by this upwards, then by the river Boys to its origin, crossing to that of the river Pedras, by it down to the Almas, which continues it to the Maranham and Tucantines, divides the province into two parts, eastern and western, which latter is the larger portion, each of which is subdivided into three grand districts; namely,—
| Cayaponia |  | in the western portion. |
| Goyaz | ||
| Nova Beira | ||
| Tucantines | | in the eastern. |
| Parannan | ||
| Rio das Velhas |
District of Cayaponia.
Cayaponia derives its name from the Cayapo nation, who have occupied it from time immemorial.
It is bounded on the north by the district of Goyaz; on the west by Bororonia, from which it is separated by the river Araguaya; on the south by Camapuania, from which it is divided by the river Pardo; and on the east by the rivers Paranna, Parannahiba, and Annicuns, which separate it, the first from the province of St. Paulo, the others from the district of Rio das Velhas. The northern limit is distinctly marked by a range of mountains, running in the same parallel of latitude as the lake of Pasmados, situated near the river of its name, in 17° 20′. It is upwards of two hundred and fifty miles in length from north to south, and one hundred and seventy at its medium width.
It is the least known amongst the districts of this province, not yet possessing a single Christianized establishment. The Cayapos, divided into various tribes, under whose dominion it hitherto remains, have from time to time made destructive sallies upon the caravans of Cuiaba, and invaded the northern part of the province of St. Paulo, where they have occasioned the flight of many colonies. They wander about almost in a state of nudity. Besides the bow and arrow, arms common to all the other Indian nations, they use also a club about one yard in length, of choice wood, round at the end which they lay hold of, and flat in the form of an oar at the other, the whole ornamented or dressed with the barks of shrubs of various colours, and woven in imitation of a mat. A blow from this weapon is fatal. Honey, fish, wild fruits, and game are their aliment. Their principal dwelling places are in the vicinity of the river Cururuhy, and not far removed from the cataract of Urubu Punga, whither they are in the habit of proceeding in large parties, for the purpose of fishing. There are times that the Portuguese do not experience any hostility from these Indians, and amongst other instances, one occurred in the year 1810, when Dr. Joam Ferreyra, treasurer-mor of the cathedral of St. Paulo, in order to gratify his curiosity, proceeded to visit and examine this famous cataract, where he arrived at the same time that a tribe of Cayapos appeared there, who conducted themselves as ancient allies, and with every appearance of friendship; they received graciously the presents which the traveller liberally offered to them, and allowed various persons of both sexes and different ages to remain in his company.
The ancient certanistas met with various rivers in the interior of this district, flowing southward, and their diaries enumerate, amongst others, the Perdiçao, which is nearest to the Annicuns, and most probably one of its tributaries; the Turvo, the Doirados, the Gallera, and the Pasmados, which is the most westerly, receives some of the preceding, and falls into the Parannan, near the cascade of Urubu Punga, under the name of Cururuhy. They also mention the Appary, which discharges itself into the said Parannan, many leagues above the fall, and two Cayapos, both tributaries like the preceding river, and little distant, one to the south and the other to the north of it.
The Sucuriu is considerable, disembogues a little below the Tiete, and is navigable nearly to its origin, which is north of Camapuan, upon the border of Bororonia. A certanista proceeded by it with his canoes to the Piquery, which conducted them to the river St. Lourenço.
The river Verde, which is also considerable, and of crystalline and excellent water, affords navigation to the interior of a peninsula, formed by the preceding river and the Pardo, the southern limit of the province, with the Parannan, which receives them. The water of this river, before being drawn from its bed, resembles green ink. Its margins abound with most beautiful woods, consisting of the finest timber.