The towns of this province are the following:—

Oeyras, to which King Joseph gave the title of city, with this appellation, in honour of his celebrated secretary, the first count of that name, was denominated until then the town of Mocha, having been so created in the reign of John V. about the year 1718; and, although it has been from this period the capital of the province, it does not yet surpass a small town; but is well enough supplied, and well situated near the right margin of a stream, which, three miles lower, falls into the Caninde. It is two hundred and fifty miles to the south of St. Joam de Parnahiba, and upwards of three hundred to the south-south-east of St. Luiz of Maranham; one hundred and forty in the same direction from Cachias; and between six and seven hundred miles to the west of the town of Pernambuco. The church is dedicated to the Lady of Victory, and it has also the hermitages of Conceiçao and Rozario. The houses are generally of clay and timber, whitened with potters’ earth; and the greater part of its inhabitants are Europeans.

Parnahiba, a middling town, and the principal in the province, is advantageously situated upon a point on the right margin of the eastern branch of the river from which its name is borrowed, in sandy ground, fifteen miles from the sea. It has some houses of one story, which are not seen in any other towns of the province; and the streets are generally unpaved. It is the deposit of a great quantity of cotton and hides, and has a church dedicated to the Lady of Graca. The inhabitants draw their water from the river or from cacimbas, and are frequently attacked with fevers. In 1811, it became the residence of a Juiz de Fora, and a custom-house was at the same time established. Within its district large and excellent melons grow, also water-melons throughout the year.

Campo Maior is a town in a state of mediocrity, well situated upon the margin, and eight miles above the embouchure of the small river Sorubim, of which it formerly had the name. It is thirty miles distant from Parnahiba, near a profound lake, stored with fish and good water. Besides the church dedicated to St. Antonio, it has a hermitage of the Lady of Rozario. The small river Maratahoan washes its district, from the bed of which are drawn excellent grindstones. The inhabitants breed cattle, and cultivate cotton and the necessaries of life.

Vallenca, primitively Catinguinha, is a small town, situated upon an insignificant stream, which fifteen miles lower enters the river St. Victor. Its church is dedicated to the Lady of O. Within its district there is saltpetre, and good pasturage, where many cattle are bred. Twenty-five miles distant is the chapel of the Lady of Conceiçao, and in its environs are cultivated the necessaries of life peculiar to the country.

Marvao, whose first name was Rancho do Prato, is also a small place, situated in a plain twenty miles above the mouth of the small river so called, on the margin of which graze herds of large cattle, constituting the wealth of its dwellers. The Lady of Desterro is the patroness of its church, and within the district there is silver and pumice-stone.

Jerumenha is an insignificant town, upon the margin and fifteen miles above the embouchure of the Gurguea, of which it had originally the name. It has a church dedicated to St. Antonio; and the inhabitants breed cattle and cultivate the common necessaries of life. They are frequently attacked with fevers.

Pernagua is a small town and well situated upon the western margin of a lake fifteen miles in length, near eight in width, deep, well stored with fish, and traversed by the river Pirahim. It has a fine church of stone, dedicated to the Lady of Livramento; having flat environs, small hills only being seen at a distance. The inhabitants, amongst whom are some Europeans, raise cattle and horses; and besides other agricultural productions, the sugar cane, of which is made rapaduras, and an ardent spirit. It is above fifty miles distant from the southern limits of the province, about the same from the river Preto, and above one hundred and thirty miles from the town of St. Francisco das Chagas. In its district there are portions of ground appropriated to the culture of tobacco.

The lake of Pernagua which is reduced to eight miles of length, and four in width, during the dry season, was formed, it is said, by an extraordinary overflowing of the river, since the Portuguese were masters of the country.