Rivers, Lakes, and Ports.—The river Doce has its heads in the centre of Minas Geraes, and, flowing through part of that province, leaves it, already accumulated by its tributary streams into a considerable river, under the name by which it is here known. After it begins to divide this province from that of Espirito Santo, it is precipitated in the space of one league over three falls, denominated the Escadinhas. From hence to the ocean it is large, serpentine, and handsome, and has many flat islands. Its waters are muddy in the summer season, in consequence of the minerals of Minas Geraes with which it is impregnated; and this appearance is partly caused, it may be inferred, by the auriferous bed through which there cannot be a doubt, from what has been already observed, the latter part of its course is impelled. Its waters are discharged between two points of flat sand of considerable extent; and this aqueous volume preserves its freshness for a considerable distance into the ocean, from which circumstance its primitive name was changed to that of Doce (Soft, or Fresh.)
The St. Mattheus, originally the Cricare, has its source in Minas Geraes. Soon after entering this province, it runs for the space of many miles with great violence, occasioned by the impulse it acquires in descending various falls. A little below this current, which is supposed to be in the meridian of the Escadinhas, it receives by the left the large river Cotache, which traverses extensive woods, inhabited by Indians and wild beasts. It irrigates one of the most fertile countries of the state, and discharges itself into the sea thirty-five miles north of the Doce. A little above its embouchure it receives by the northern margin the St. Anna, which is navigable with the tide.
The Mucury, which is considerable as far as the tide advances, originates in Minas Geraes, and with a rapid current enters the sea near thirty miles to the north of the St. Mattheus. In the vicinity of the ocean it traverses a most fertile district, covered with fine woods, occupied by wild quadrupeds, beyond which it passes through lands rich in gold and precious stones. This river communicates with the Peruhype.
The Peruhype, whose mouth is fifteen miles north of the Mucury, originates in the centre of the province, and is apparently considerable, with a tide running many leagues up.
Ten miles north of the preceding is the mouth of the channel called the river Caravellas, but which is only an arm that the sea extends ten miles to the west, of considerable width, very deep, and beautifully bordered with mangroves. The entrance is only accessible to small vessels. About the middle of its extent, there is a spacious channel of great depth communicating with the Peruhype.
The Itanhem, after a long course, enters the sea fifteen miles north of Caravellas, and affords navigation for canoes for a considerable distance.
The Jucurucu, which discharges itself fifteen miles north of the Itanhem, takes its name at the confluence of the afore-mentioned river Do Sul, (South) with the Do Norte, (North) which unite about twenty miles from the sea, and afford navigation to canoes for a considerable space into the interior of the country. Sumacas advance up this river as far as the said confluence.
Thirty miles to the north of the Jucurucu is the point Corumbau, by corruption Corumbabo; three miles further the mouth of the river Cramimuan, at the bottom of a large bay; and a little further the small river Juassema, near whose mouth is yet seen the vestiges of the town so called.
Eight miles north of the Cramimuan is the river Do Frade, (Friar,) which took its name from the shipwreck of a religious Franciscan. Its course is through woods, and it is only capable of receiving canoes.
The Buranhen, for a long period here designated only the Cachoeira, in consequence of a fall, (cachoeira,) which it passed about the centre of the province, enters the sea eighteen miles north of the Frade: its origin is unknown; but not being considerable, it may be inferred that its course is not extensive; that portion of it explored flows from the south-west to the north-east, with many windings. It affords various sorts of fish, such as are called here piaus, trahiras, robalos, acaris, piabanhas, piabas, jundias, pitus, and very large prones in abundance.