Rivers.—The Parahiba, from which the province takes its name, originates in the district of the Cayriris Velhos, in the skirts of the serra of Jabitaca, near the source of the Capibaribe, runs to the east-north-east, and is considerable only in the vicinity of the ocean, into which it is discharged by two mouths, separated by the island of St. Bento, which is about three miles in extent. As the territory in which it rises is of a sandy nature, it becomes a stream in that district only during the period of the rains, nor does it receive till after half its course, any of those tributary currents which render it navigable for a considerable space. Ships advance up only a few miles, sumacas to the capital, and canoes as far as the town of Pilar. From hence upwards, its bed is stony, with many falls and currents rendering difficult or entirely impeding navigation. It does not abound in any part with fish. In the proximity of the sea it is wide and handsome, the margins being adorned with mangroves.
The Guarahu, which is the largest of its confluents, unites it on the left, not far from the capital.
The Mamanguape, which is handsome, and affords an advantageous navigation to the planters upon its adjacent lands, enters the ocean by two mouths, divided by a flat island covered with mangroves, between which and the chain of reefs, which arrests all the fury of the sea, there is an excellent anchorage place, where vessels lie in dead water, to which a narrow aperture amongst the reefs affords a passage, with three fathoms of depth, and is little more than ten miles to the north of Point Lucena.
The Grammame, originally Guaramama, which discharges itself between Port Francez and Cape Branco, has a large wooden bridge over it, on the road from Goyanna to the city of Parahiba. It is only navigable as far as the tide advances.
The Cammaratiba, which enters the sea ten miles north of the bay of Traicao, and the Popoca, which discharges itself six miles to the north of the Goyanna, are also navigable with the tide.
In the western part is the Piranhas, which has acquired the name of the fish with which it abounds. Its source is at the base of the serra of Cayriris, and after seventy miles of course to the north, it gathers on the left the river Peixe, which comes from the serra of Luiz Gomez, with fifty miles of extent, always flowing through campinhas, where there are a great many emu-ostriches, and in its vicinity have been found gold and silver. Twenty-five miles below this confluence, it receives on the right the Pinhanco, which is little inferior to it, also flowing from the serra of Cayriris, in a serpentine course through an extensive district, abounding with cattle belonging to various fazendeiros, or breeders, who live dispersed about in different situations. After a long course, having become considerable by other streams, it enters the province of Rio Grande in its way to the ocean.
Mountains.—Almost all the mountains with which this province is interspersed, are arms of the serra Borborema, commencing near the sea, within the province of Rio Grande, which traverse it from north-east to south-west, dividing it into two parts, east and west. The latter, denominated Cayriris Novas, is an elevated country, and being refreshed with winds is wholesome, and also considerably wider than the eastern portion. January, February, March, and April, are here the most rainy months.
In the serra of Teyxeira, which is a portion of the Borborema, there are some inscriptions with green ink, in characters unknown to the adjacent inhabitants, but which are reputed to be the work of the Dutch, or the Flamengos, as they are yet called here.
Zoology.—All the domestic animals of the Portuguese peninsula, multiply here without degenerating much. In the woods are seen the anta, deer, ounce, boar, monkey, quaxinin, preguica, or sloth, paca, quaty, and other quadrupeds common to the neighbouring provinces. There is here a species of ferret, the size of a cat, and resembling the quaty, with which the hunters draw from their burrows the moco and the preha. If the animal perceive a snake in the hole it will not enter. It does not appear to be known southward of the St. Francisco. Amongst the birds are observed the emu-ostrich, seriema, jacu, zabele, quail, parrot, rolla, sabia, troquaze pigeon, canary, cardal, wild duck, colhereira, heron, jaburu, socco, a diversity of the macarico, and the sparrowhawk. The arraponga has the feathers black upon the back. The puppeyro, which is the size of a blackbird, with the bill of a pigeon, blue back, the breast red, and the tail when opened of beautiful colours, is only met with in the woods of the serras. Two Indian nations were the possessors of this country. The Cahetes, from the river Parahiba to the south, and the Potyguaras to the north; each tribe is divided into various hordes, and the whole have been christianized many years since.
Phytology.—Cedar, Brazil wood, aroeira, pereira, batinga, which is yellow, iron and violet wood, fava-de-cheiro, (a species of pulse,) which grows in pods, and whose bean is deemed excellent for removing hoarseness; sipipira, bow-wood, heart of negro, anjico, angellim, jatuba, the cupahyba oil, and gum-mastick trees. In the woods where these trees grow, and where there are others for building, are also met with fruit trees growing without any human aid, such as the jabuticaba, pitomba, goyaba, cajue, ambuzo, and aracaza. The mangaba is very abundant in some parts. The cocoa-nut tree abounds along the coast, which in parts is sandy, in others rocky, or covered with mangroves. The catulez is a sort of large palm tree, the fruit of which affords aliment to cattle. The piki is a middling sized tree, its fruit round, of the size of an apple, with a green rind, and a large prickly stone, the almond of which is eaten roasted or raw; the pulp is white and soft, and is also eaten; an oil is likewise extracted from it, and used for seasoning.