The aldeia of Mantanca is ten miles to the north of Pontal, near the origin of a small river, which after a course of twelve miles enters the Tucantines. It is yet insignificant, in consequence of the invasions of the Indians, but it abounds with fish, game, and fruits. The salubrity of the climate, the fertility of the soil, the abundance of water, the extensive neighbouring woods, and the gold which is known to exist in the district, ought long ago to have produced an accumulating population, a great augmentation of the existing villages, and many other improvements; in which case its inhabitants would, ere this, have reduced or put to flight the hostile Indians, and, besides, would have been carrying on a great commercial intercourse with the merchants of Gram Para. None of the comarcas of this province hold so advantageous a situation for commerce.
In the angle of the confluence of the Araguaya with the Tucantines, there is a prezidìo, or military detachment, to register the canoes which navigate by both rivers to the city of Para. This is the place where the before-mentioned decree of 1809 ordered the town of St. Joam das Duas Barras to be founded, for the head of the comarca of that name. It is said, however, that this project, so well conceived, was not effected, in consequence of the reefs with which this situation is encompassed, and which impeded the access of canoes. This probably was the reason of two places being founded, one upon each river, higher up.
In the year 1775 were reduced the two savage nations of Carajas and Javahes, who possessed the island of St. Anna, or Bannanal. The first were established in six aldeias, and the other in three, nearly the whole with names of places in Portugal; namely, Angeja and Seabra, both for the Carajas, near the southern extremity of the island; the first near the eastern arm, and the other near the western; Cunha, for the Javahes, thirty-five miles to the north of Angeja, and some distance from the river; Annadia, for the Carajas, twenty-eight miles to the north of Seabra, and near the river; St. Pedro, for the same, and eighteen miles to the north-east of Cunha, near the margin of the river; Ponte de Lima, for the Javahes, in the centre of the island; Lavradio, fifty miles to the north of Annadia; Lamacaes, forty to the north; both for the Carajas, in the vicinity of the river; and Mello, for the Javahes, some distance from the eastern arm. At this period the name of Nova Beira was given to the neighbouring territory.
District of Tucantines.
It is the most northern of the eastern districts, and borrows its name from the river which bounds it on the west, separating it from Nova Beira. On the east it is bounded by the cordillera which constitutes the limit between this province and that of Pernambuco. The two rivers of Manuel Alvez did bound it, one on the north, and the other on the south; but, as it has increased towards the north, the limit on that side is not at present quite determinable. This district is computed to be two hundred and eighty miles long from north to south, and one hundred and forty of medium width.
The two rivers Manuel Alvez and Somno are the principal of those which water this comarca. The latter, it is said, rises in the serra of Figuras, a continuation of the cordillera before alluded to, from whose sides others issue that augment its waters at the commencement. All three are navigable, and afford the same fish as the Tucantines.
It is a country mountainous in great part, and yet occupied at its northern extremity by various barbarous nations, who follow hunting, damage the farms of cattle breeders, and advance occasionally in squadrons of canoes by the rivers that approximate to the Portuguese establishments. They are of the Xerente, Chavante, and Tapacoa tribes. Woods exist almost only upon the margins of the rivers, the principal portion consisting of sandy sterile lands, in part appropriated for breeding cattle. Calcareous stone abounds in some places. Gold gave origin to its establishments, and, while obtained without much ingenuity and labour, rendered many persons rich.
The principal povoaçoes are, Natividade, Chapada, and Carmo.
Six miles distant from the right margin of the southern river of Manuel Alvez, and little less than thirty-five from the Tucantines, in the proximity of the morro of Olhos d’Agua, (so called from various rills thence emanating,) where there is gold, and near the small river St. Antonio, is the arraial of Natividade. It is the head of the julgado, with the condition of a town, and the residence at present of the ouvidor of the comarca. It was founded in 1739, and has a church, where the festival of the Nativity of our Lord is held with much solemnity. It has also two chapels dedicated to Rozario and Terco, and another of St. Benedicto. The culture of the cane, the cotton tree, tobacco, Indian corn, mandioca, and legumes, occupy the greater part of the population. Miners are few; as the produce (from not adopting a new mode) of the mines affords them no encouragement. Cattle are bred. Oranges and citrons are excellent.
Near seven miles to the north of Natividade is the small and agreeably situated arraial of Chapada, with a chapel of St. Anna. The people who inhabit it cultivate the same productions as those of the former place, and are miners.