A history of the Brazil

by James Henderson

To the west of this town is the parish of Conceiçao d’Almofalla, whose parishioners are whites, with some Tramembe Indians; the whole cultivating mandioca, legumes, and rice. In its district there are salt-pits.

To the south of the preceding is the parish of Conceiçao d’Amontada, the population of which, for the main part whites, cultivate the same productions, and breed cattle.

Aricaty, the largest, most populous, commercial, and flourishing town and frequented port of the province, was created by John V. in 1723, and is situated on the eastern margin, eight miles above the mouth of the Jaguaribe, the large floods of which river incommode a portion of its inhabitants. It has a church dedicated to the Lady of Rozario, and four hermitages, with the titles of Lord Jesus of Bom Fim, of Navigators, of the Lady of Livramento, and of St. Gonçalo; a professor of Latin; good streets; and many houses of one story, with a great portion of them built of brick. Cotton and hides are its principal exportations.

Icco stands along the right margin of the river Salgado, a few leagues above its mouth, one hundred miles north of Cratto, and near one hundred and eighty south of Aricaty, is a considerable town, with a church dedicated to the Lady of Expectaçao, a hermitage of Rozario, another of the Lord Bom Fim, and a royal master of Latin. Its edifices are chiefly of wood, and its inhabitants are much incommoded by the heat, reflected from a morro, or rock, near it, and from whence a vast extent of the environs are viewed, abounding with cattle. The river is well stored with fish, and is subject to floods, which inundate a considerable space of territory, that produces rice, Indian corn, feijao, water-melons, and excellent melons; but neither the plantain, nor any fruit trees prosper in its vicinity. Farinha and sugar are brought here from Cratto, and salt from Assu.

Lavras da Mangabeira, a parish created in 1813, is thirty-five miles above Icco, of which it is a dismembered portion, and is upon the margin of the Salgado. Its church is dedicated to St. Vincente Ferreyra, and its inhabitants raise various necessaries of life, cotton, and cattle.

Cratto, a town in a state of mediocrity, situated in a plain near a small stream, that takes its name, being one of the heads of the Salgado, has a church of the Lady of Penha, and is the most abundant town of the province. Every fruit tree of the South American continent prospers in its fertile district, and it has the advantage of running streams to irrigate the plantations, not excepting those of mandioca, when the rains fail, and to which may be attributed the superabundance of the necessaries of life it always enjoys. The neighbouring districts have recourse to them when they experience years of drought, and the consequent deficiency of vegetation. Limes, citrons, bananas, and cabbages, are of an uncommon size. Diseases of the eyes and legs are here endemical. Thunder showers commence in its vast district, which is a portion of the Cayriris Novas, in October, and last till May. In certain months cold nights are experienced.

Thirty miles to the east-south-east is the parish of St. Joze, yet known by the name of Missao Velha, (Old Mission.) Its numerous parishioners, generally whites, cultivate mandioca, Indian corn, and the sugar cane.

Bom Jardim was created a town by a law of the 30th of August, 1814, and is a dismemberment of Missao Velha, made two years previously, which was then the most populous parish of the province. It is fifty miles distant from Cratto, and has a church of Bom Jesus. Sugar and cattle form the riches of the inhabitants.

The town of St. Bernardo, yet small, is situated near a small river, which two miles lower joins the Jaguaribe on the western margin, thirty-five miles above Aricaty, and one hundred and forty miles below Icco. Its church is dedicated to the Lady of Rozario, and cattle and cotton constitute the means of subsistence for the inhabitants.

St. Joam do Principe, originally Thauha, is a small town near the Jaguaribe, a few leagues below its source, in a fine and fertile district, enjoying salubrious air. The inhabitants are breeders of cattle, and produce cotton and the necessaries of life. In its environs there is an abundant mine of pumice stone.