The river Jecu enters the ocean ten miles to the north of the Guarapary, and three to the south of the entrance to the bay of Espirito Santo. The Jesuits who possessed the adjacent lands, formed a navigable communication from this river to the bay, by an extensive valley, in order to avoid the dangers of the ocean, passing round mount Moreno to enter the port. It yet remains, presenting the same advantage to the present agriculturists of the country.

The bay of Espirito Santo is spacious, with secure anchorage. Amongst the various streams which lose themselves in it, the Santa Maria is the only considerable one. It is navigable for the space of forty miles to the first fall. The tide runs up this river about twelve miles to the mouth of the river Serra, which unites it on the left bank; by the same side it receives another, which affords navigation to the centre of the district, which indicates much fecundity. By the southern margin it is joined by the small river Crubixa, where the stones met with in its bed afford a sort of coral, with which the Indians ornament themselves. In the vicinity of this river is cultivated mandioca, rice, bananas, and canes, the sugar of which is deemed the best in the province. Seven miles from the northern bar of Espirito Santo is the small river Carahype, which becomes a current only when the rains produce an overflowing of the lake Jucunen, which is well stored with fish, about three miles in length, and near the sea. A little to the north of the mount of Mestre Alvaro, the Reys Majos, originally Apyaputang, is discharged, having a small port at its embouchure.

The Mandu comes from the interior of the country, running north-north-east between woods, enters the river Doce two miles below the Escadinha Falls, and is navigable for canoes.

The towns of this province are—

The villa or town of Nossa Senhora of Victoria, the capital of the province, is situated on an amphitheatrical site on the western side of an island, fifteen miles in circumference, in the bay of Espirito Santo, which is capable of receiving frigates, and its entrance is defended by five small forts. The town is well provided with water, has tolerable houses, paved streets, and a church, which when complete will be handsome. There is a house of misericordia, convents of Franciscans and slippered Carmelites, two Terceira orders belonging to those corporations, a chapel of St. Luzia, three of Nossa Senhora of Boa Morte, Conceiçao, and Rozario. The ex-Jesuitical college is a fine edifice, and now serves for the palace of the governors. The ouvidor of the comarca has his ordinary residence here. It has also a royal professor of Latin, and a junta da real fazenda, or the treasury. The island is elevated, and the greatest part in a state of cultivation. Its eastern side lies in a direct line with the coast of the continent.

At the entrance of the bar, near the before-mentioned Moreno Mount, is another, also a land-mark to sailors, and is in the form of a sugar-loaf. On its summit is a convent of Franciscans, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Penha, of which it takes the name, not unfrequently sustaining damage by the winds. The inhabitants of this sanctuary enjoy delightful prospects of the vast ocean, and the varied scenery of mountains of a diversity of elevation and aspect, with valleys of different width and profundity.

In the skirts of this mount, at the entrance of the bay, is Villa Velha, (Old Town,) originally the town of Espirito Santo, and for some time capital of the capitania, which, however, never became considerable, and is now of little consequence. Our Lady of Rozario is the patroness of the church, whose parishioners are fishermen. Fish are abundant and cheap upon all this part of the coast.

Benevente is at present a small town; but it unquestionably enjoys an advantageous situation for becoming more considerable, at the mouth of the river which takes its name, having a commodious anchorage place, and great fertility of surrounding soil. The inhabitants are mostly Indians, for whose reception it first began. The Jesuits, its founders, had a hospicio, or entertaining house here, which is now divided into three portions; one is the residence of the vicar, another is appropriated to the municipal house, and the third for the use of the ouvidor. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Assumpçao. In the adjacencies of the river, cotton, sugar, rice, Indian corn, &c. are cultivated. The canoes which convey those productions to the port can advance up the river with the tide for a considerable distance.

Guarapary is a villota, or small place, situated near the embouchure of the river Guarapary, upon a small bay. The church is dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao. Its inhabitants, principally Indians, cultivate cotton and the necessaries of life. Here is collected the greatest portion of the Peruvian balsam, which takes the name of the province.