A history of the Brazil

by James Henderson

Mountains.—The serras of Marcella, Christaes, and Tabatinga, are the most elevated portions of the cordillera which limit it on the west. The serra of Jinipapo is in the vicinity of the confluence of the river Velhas; the serras Quatys and Araras in the centre of the western part. The serra Negra separates it from the comarca of Rio das Mortes for a considerable space, and is almost entirely of stone, having mines of good gold. The serra Lapa follows that of Oiro Preto to the north. The serra of Piedade extends nearly northward. Those of Saudade and Itucambira run north and south for a great extent, and at a considerable distance from the river Velhas, serving as limits between this comarca and that of Serro Frio.

Rivers and Lakes.—The river St. Francisco, which is the largest of the province, and receives a great part of its other rivers, rises in the vicinity of the serra of Canastra. After flowing a considerable space towards the north-east and gathering various small streams on both sides, it receives on the left the Bambuhy, which flows from the boundary and brings with it the Perdiçao, that originates in the serra Marcella: this is the first considerable stream that enlarges the St. Francisco. Twenty-eight miles lower it is joined on the right by the Lambary, which waters the extensive district of the town of Tamandua; as much further to the north it receives on the left the Marmellada, that flows from the serra Quatys. Eighteen miles lower the considerable river Para is incorporated with it, after running more than one hundred and forty miles from the south-east and passing the town of Pitangui. The Paraupeba follows, whose course is not less than two hundred and ten miles, its origin being near the town of Quelluz. The country through which it flows abounds with cattle.

Twenty-five miles below the confluence of the Paraupeba is that of the Andaya, which comes from the boundary, running along an extensive and moderately elevated cordillera, (whose southern portion is called Saudade and the northern Quatys,) and bringing with it the Funchal. This river, one hundred miles long, abounds with precious stones, amongst which there are many diamonds.

A little lower the Borrachuda, discharged also on the left, is not much inferior to the preceding, and runs like it along the western side of a cordillera called the serra Araras, which is parallel with the former.

Eighteen miles below, the considerable Abayte discharges itself on the same side, and is formed by two streams of the same name, that unite much above its mouth, whose origins are more than one hundred miles distant from each other; one comes from the south-west, the other from the north-west, and brings the waters of the small river Chumbo, that passes the base of a morro where there is a rich mine of lead, from which it takes the name. The intervening territory of the origins of the Abaytes is a wood, denominated the Matta da Corda, which invites the agriculturist, having various intervals of campinhas, where numerous herds of cattle graze, their owners living at a great distance.

Fifty miles further is the grand cataract of Pirapora, and fifteen beyond it the confluence of the large river Das Velhas, (Old Women,) originally Guaycuhy, which in the language of the aborigines signifies the same, and whose origin is in the vicinity of St. Bartholomew, six miles to the west of Villa Rica. It has a great number of falls, windings, and more than two hundred miles of course. The Parauna, the Pardo, and the Curmatahy, which unite with it on the right, and the Bicudo on the left, are its largest tributaries.

A little lower, the St. Francisco receives on the right the Jequetahy and the Pacuhy. Their adjacent lands are pastured by large cattle. Further on, the large Paracatu enters it on the left, the principal heads of which are the Escuro and the Prata, incorporated with the Arrependidos, which limits for some distance the two provinces. These rivers unite themselves a few leagues above the Corrego Rico, (Rich Channel) that passes near the town of Paracatu. Here it takes this name. Its largest tributary is the Preto, which issues from lake Feia, near the arraial of Coiros, in the province of Goyaz, and after having gathered a great number of small streams, joins the Paracatu on the left, almost at an equal distance from the confluence where it takes and that where it loses the name. A little below the Preto, on the opposite side, the Paracatu receives the Sonno, rich in precious stones, which brings the waters of the Almas, that joins it on the left. The Paracatu is navigable to a little below the Corrego Rico, and its crystalline waters are so light, that they float a considerable way above those of the river which receives them. Its lateral lands are abundant in cattle.

Twenty miles to the north, the St. Francisco receives, on the same side, the large Urucuya, navigable for a considerable distance. It originates on the boundary of Goyaz, is narrow and deep, having clear waters, which flow with such rapidity, that, on entering the St. Francisco, they at all times roll across, sensibly affecting the lands of its eastern margin. The St. Rita, joining on the right, and the Claro on the left, are its principal tributaries, both traversing sterile lands possessing cattle.

It is followed by the Acary, Pardo, Pandeiro, Salgado, Pindahyba, Itacaramby, and the Japore, the whole entering by the western margin. The Pandeiro has fine water, an extensive course, and traverses large woods of excellent timber with many cedars, where numerous colonies might be advantageously established, for the cultivation of their fertile soils.

A few leagues below the Japore, the important river Verde enters on the eastern side; and about the same distance further, the Carinhenha, which is large and navigable for a considerable extent. It rises in the chapadas of Santa Maria, near the limits of Goyaz; its crystalline waters, having a rapid current, flow for a considerable way without mixing with those of the St. Francisco after entering it.