The river Nhamunda, by corruption Jamunda, divides this vast province into eastern and western, serving also for a limit between the jurisdictions of the ouvidores of Para and of Rio Negro.

Rivers.—In the western part are, first, the Hyapuru and the Rio Negro; afterwards the Rio Branco (White River); the Matary, with two mouths; the Urubu, communicating with the river Aniba by the great lake Saraca, which is near the Amazons, and is there discharged by six mouths.

In the eastern part are the Trombetas, originally Oriximina, large, and entering the Amazons below Rio Negro; the Gurupatuba; the Anauirapucu, by corruption Arannapucu, the Vaccarapy, and the Aruary, which enters the ocean.

The river Hyapura originates in the province of Popayan, and, after having watered eleven hundred miles of country, running towards the south-east, forming numerous islands of all dimensions, incorporates itself with the Amazons by its several mouths. Its adjacent lands are flat, inundated, and bad: Caqueta is its first name in the country where it rises.

The Rio Negro rises also in the province of Popayan, to the north-east of the Hyapura, with which it runs parallel an equal distance. Forty miles before it enters the Amazons it is divided into two unequal branches. Condamine says that he measured the eastern branch, ten miles from the Amazons, and that he found it in the narrowest part seven thousand two hundred and eighteen feet in width. This river augments considerably as it approaches the Amazons, is in parts from twelve to eighteen miles in width, and is divided into various branches by numerous islands, which render the navigation not unfavourable. Its water exhibits such a dark aspect that it has been said to appear like black ink; it is, notwithstanding, transparent, diuretic, and salubrious, retaining its clearness for many leagues after it enters the bed of the Amazons. It has the same fish as the latter, and affords navigation to the centre of various districts. The greatest floods are in August. We will describe its numerous confluents, together with the povoaçoes upon its margins.

The towns of the eastern portion of the province are

The towns of the western portion are

Macappa is the most considerable town of the province, situated upon the margin of the Amazons, four miles north of the equator, on elevated land, with a very good fort, a church dedicated to St. Joze, an hospital, tolerable streets, and houses covered with tiles. It had its commencement twelve miles further to the west, at the embouchure of the Matapy. Its inhabitants cultivate Indian corn, mandioca, rice, some cocoa, cotton, and various fruits. Amongst other trees of estimation in its environs there is one called quatiara, the wood of which is yellow, having black stripes; also the macaco wood.