A history of the Brazil

by James Henderson

Forty miles above, the river Catua enters the Amazons, and twenty more, westward, the Cayama, its margins abounding with sarsaparilla; and, further on, the small river Giticaparana, a name implying the river of potatoes. Its mouth is fifteen miles below the Teffe. From the number of Christians being so small, and the only persons who clear away any of the woods for the purposes of agriculture, the country exhibits the same aspect to the navigators of the Amazons at this day that was presented to its first discoverers. The majestic size of various kinds of trees demonstrates the fecundity and substantial nature of the soil.

Ega, a middling town, well situated upon the right bank of the Teffe, is eight miles from the Amazons, with a church dedicated to St. Thereza de Jezus. Almost all its inhabitants are pure Indians, descended from the Uayupys, Sorimoes, Coretus, Cocurunas, Jumas, Hyupiuhas, Tamuanas, and Achouaris, and cultivate mandioca, feijao, rice, Indian corn, hortulans, and fruits, in sufficient quantities for their subsistence; they gather honey, and collect some cocoa, cloves, and pechurim, from the proceeds of which they supply themselves with iron tools, baize, and other manufactures for dresses. They all pursue hunting and fishing. The women spin cotton, of which they manufacture nets and coarse cloths. This town was begun in the island of Veados, which is below the mouth of the river Hyurba, from whence Frey Andre da Costa removed it to the situation where it now exists.

District of Hyurba.

This district is confined on the north by the Amazons; on the west by the river from which it derives its name; on the south by the Spanish dominions; and on the east by the river Teffe, which separates it from the comarca of that name. It has eighty miles of width on the northern part, and abounds in timber. The rivers are stored with the same fish as the Amazons, and the woods with a great variety of birds and game, as well as formidable wild beasts, that wage war with the central Indians, of whom little more is known than the names.

Nogueyra, a middling town, pleasantly situated upon the left of the river Teffe, almost in front of Ega, is ten miles from the Amazons and ornamented with a church of Nossa Senhora do Rozario. The houses are intermixed with orange trees, and the streets, being full of them, have the appearance of groves. Its inhabitants are principally Indians of divers nations, and Mesticos, respiring a fresh and salubrious atmosphere. They are fond of fishing, collect abundance of the necessaries of life peculiar to the country, some articles of exportation, and possess cattle. The first site of this town was more to the west, on the southern bank of the Amazons, for the habitation of a numerous assemblage of Indians, namely, Jumas, Ambuas, Cirus, Catauixis, Uayupes, Hyauhauhays, and Mariaranas, brought together by the Carmalite priests. From that situation it was removed to Point Parauary, five miles higher upon the same side of the river, where Condamine found it with the name of that point in 1743, and from whence the priest, Frey Joze de Santa Thereza Ribeyro removed it, in the year 1753, to the place where we have stated it to be situated.

Alvarens, originally and at times yet called Cahissara, is a small town, situated upon a lake, near the margin of the Amazons, eighteen miles above the river Teffe. Its church is dedicated to St. Joaquim. The population is an accumulation of various tribes of Indians, with many Mesticos, who, besides absolute necessaries, cultivate some cocoa and sarsaparilla, but are much incommoded by the pium musquito, and alike annoyed by the voracity of the ants. Its first situation was upon the channel connecting the Hyapura with the lake Amana, two days’ voyage from the Amazons. The Ambuas and Uaruecocas were then its inhabitants; it was removed from thence to its present site, by one Giraldo Gonsalves, in 1758. In Nogueyra there is a creek or outlet, opened by nature, by which canoes, &c. proceed to Alvarens when the rivers are overflowed.

District of Hyutahy.

This district is confined by the Amazons on the north; by the river of its name on the west; by the Spanish possessions on the south; and by the district of Hyurba on the east: its width along the Amazons is about sixty miles. The middle and southern parts are not better known than the same portions of the surrounding districts, in consequence of being in the power of various untamed Indian tribes, such as the Marauhas, Catuquinas, Urubus, Cauaxis, Uacarauhas, Gemias, Toquedas, Maturuas, Chibaras, Buges, and Apenaris, with some others, who pass the rivers into the adjoining districts, and use the esgaravatana, bow and arrow, and envenomed lance, when they go to war.

It remains in a state of uncertainty whether the rivers Hyurba, upwards of six hundred yards in width at its mouth, the Hyutahy, still more spacious, and the before-mentioned Teffe and Puru, the largest of all, have their origins in the serras of Peru or issue from the lake of Rogagualo; their sources have been attributed to both, without any exploration of their courses or any satisfactory evidence being adduced in support of those statements. The extensive volume of water which each brings to the Amazons indicates a very considerable course from remote origins. It will be interesting to the future traveller to explore their unknown sources and extending margins. The Portuguese do not carry their researches amongst the central Indians; and, when they advance up the rivers any distance, they never proceed beyond the limits of the pacific Indians, with whom they have some commerce.

Fonteboa, a middling povoaçao, is situated on the eastern margin of the small river Cayarahy, two miles above its mouth, twenty miles from the embouchure of the Hyurba, and thirty-five below that of the Hyutahy. It has a church dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe. The first site of this town was upon the small river Capury, which empties itself into another called Moroentyba, and which latter discharges itself below the Manhana, the third branch of the Hyapura. From the Capury it was removed to the mouth of the Moroentyba, and from thence to the situation of Taracoatyba, a short distance from the Manhana, from whence it was removed seven miles below the mouth of the Hyutahy, where Condamine says he saw it, and which situation was changed for its present one. It is not known what nation were its first inhabitants. When it was in the fourth station—the Padre, Frey Joam St. Jeronymo, collected in it many Pacuna Indians, who were previously living in aldeias upon the eastern margin of the river Icapo: these were afterwards joined by the Araycas, Marauhas, and Momanas, and, ultimately, by the Tacunas, Tumbiras, and Passes. The whole are now agriculturists, fishermen, and hunters.