A short distance from the southern point of the island of Ararahy, on the eastern bank of the Tucantins, is the southern entrance of the before-mentioned Igarape Mirim, (Narrow Strait,) and in front of it, on the opposite margin, another, called the Furo do Japim, which is extensive, and flows into the large channel that waters the southern coast of Marajo.
Eighty miles, by water, above Villavicoza, upon the same margin of the Tucantins, is the fort of Alcobaca, for the purpose of registering the canoes from Goyaz; and three miles further there is another, denominated Arroyos, for the same object: here the tide is occasionally perceptible.
Gurupu is a small town, with a church of St. Antonio upon the banks of the Amazons, twenty-five miles below the mouth of the Zingu. Some earthen ware is here made, and tiles and bricks are exported to different parts, constituting a branch of its commerce, besides cocoa and cloves. From hence is distinguished, far to the north, the serra of Velha, almost always enveloped in mist, and beyond it the serra of Paru, upon whose summits the electric fluid finds a vehicle in airy vapour, giving them additional grandeur by the vibrating thunder-peels that strike upon the distant ear. They are both of considerable altitude, and the only mountains which the navigator sees from Para to the city of Borja.
Melgaco, a town in a state of mediocrity, abounding with fish, is situated upon the western side of lake Annapu, and watered by the river of that name, fifteen miles above its embouchure. Its church is dedicated to St. Michael, and the inhabitants cultivate vegetables, grain, &c. peculiar to the country, and extract many articles of commerce from the woods.
Portel, a small town, is situated on the eastern side of the lake Annapu, near the embouchure of the channel that connects it with the river Pacaya, seven miles south of Melgaco. It has a church of St. Miguel, and the inhabitants, almost all Indians, are fishermen, hunters, and agriculturists.
Oeyras is a small town, in a sandy situation, upon the margin and five miles above the mouth of the Araticu, forty miles north east of Villavicoza and thirty-five east of Melgaco. It has a church of Assumpçao, and its people are composed of Indians of various nations, who cultivate the most common necessaries, and indulge in their favourite habits of hunting and fishing.
Between the last river and the Panauha originated the Aldeia dos Bocas, so denominated from the Combocas, who were its first inhabitants, and from whom also the Bahia dos Bocas derived its name, being a large bay, extending westward to the bar of the Panauha, that disembogues near the southern entrance of the Tagypuru Strait.
Porto de Moz is a middling and well supplied town, upon the eastern margin of the Xingu, (which is here very wide,) twelve miles from the Amazons and the port of canoes that navigate these rivers. It has a church dedicated to St. Braz, and the inhabitants are Indian farmers, and collect some exports.
Veyros is a small town, well situated upon the Xingu, fifty miles from Porto de Moz, near the mouth of a small current, having a church of St. John Baptista, and Indian inhabitants of various nations, who produce a sufficiency of common necessaries, and some articles of trade.
Pombal is another Indian town, and of the same class as the preceding, but only requiring the addition of a certain number of whites and negroes to render it considerable and flourishing, in consequence of the uncommon fertility of its soil, and the valuable productions with which nature has enriched it, having, besides, great facility of exportation. It is eighteen miles above Veyros, upon the Xingu, which supplies it abundantly with fish.