One hundred miles above the capital is the parish of Ayrao, with a church of St. Elias, on the southern margin of the Rio Negro. It first began upon a large bay near the capital, for the habitation of the Taruma and Aroaqui Indians. In the interval between these places the Rio Negro receives, on the southern margin, the Hyborena, and on the northern, the Ayurim, the Anauene, and the small rivers Cunamau, Mapauhau, and Uacriuan, which empties itself almost in front of Ayrao.
Moura is a small town, forty miles above Ayrao, of an agreeable aspect, and with some regularity, upon the right bank of the Rio Negro. The church is of St. Ritta, and its inhabitants are principally descendants of whites and Indian females. It originated in the assemblage of four Indian nations—the Carahyahys, Cocuannas, Mannaus, and Jumas, after which it had one or two removals previously to being fixed in its present situation. A little above Ayrao, the Jaumuhi enters the Rio Negro, and fifteen miles below Moura the Anany, both connecting the river that receives them with the Cadaya, the eastern arm of the Hyapura, through the medium of the large lake Atinineni, in whose vicinity the cupahyba, or capivi, trees abound. The Hyanapary, by corruption Jaguapiri, enters the northern margin of the Rio Negro, almost in front of Moura. This river, whose waters are white, has an extensive course. The Aroaqui Indians extend themselves from its banks to those of the before-mentioned Anauene.
Twenty-eight miles above Moura, on the southern margin of the Rio Negro, is the parish of Carvoeyro, having experienced several changes of situation, with a church of St. Alberto, and inhabitants mainly of the Manau, Parauanno, and Maranacuacena nations. Between Moura and Carvoeyro not one river enters the Rio Negro by the southern bank; on the northern the large river Branco, (White,) so called from the colour of its waters, discharges itself by four mouths, three very near, being formed by two small islands, the other, called Amayauhau, is fifteen miles above. This river is the largest confluent of the Rio Negro, and rises in the southern skirts of the serra Barocayna, receiving, on the eastern side, in the following order, the small river Macoary, the outlet of the lake Uadauhau, the river Ememeneny, the waters of the lakes Curuicu and Uariary, and the river Uanauhau. On the western margin the rivers Coratirimani, Eniuini, Ayarani, Cauame, and Ucayay.
Fifty miles above Carvoeyra is the parish of Poyares, upon the same side of the Rio Negro, ornamented with a church of Santa Angelo, and occupied by the Manao, Bare, and Passe Indians. Between Carvoeyra and Poyares the river Cauhaury enters the Rio Negro, on the southern side; and, on the western, the small rivers Uanapixi, Uaniba, and Cuaru.
Barcellos, twenty miles above Poyares, on the same margin of the river, is the largest town of the province, being for many years the residence of its governors, with a church of Our Lady of Conceiçao, and inhabitants of various classes, who are agriculturists, fishermen, hunters, and dealers. In the interval between Poyares and Barcellos the Rio Negro only receives the Uatahanary, eight miles below the latter place, on the southern side; on the northern, the small rivers Uyrauhau, Hyamurauhau, and Buhybuhy, the latter in front of the same town.
Fifty miles above Barcellos is the small town of Moreyra, on an eminence, upon the southern bank of Rio Negro. Nossa Senhora do Carmo is the patroness of its church, and its inhabitants are descendants of Europeans married to Indian females. In the interval from Barcellos to Moreyra the Rio Negro receives, on the southern side, the rivers Barury and Quihyuny, and the small rivers Aratahy and Quemehueury; on the northern, the Parataqui and the Uaraca, which receives, on the left, the Demene, upon whose margins formerly dwelt the Guianna Indians.
Thomar, a small town, fifty miles above Moreyra, with potteries along the southern margin of the Rio Negro, is situated in a country well adapted for the culture of indigo. Its church is of Our Lady of Rozario, and the inhabitants are composed of persons of divers complexions, who collect only the necessaries of subsistence. It began one hundred miles higher up, for the habitation of the Manao, Bare, Uayuana, and Passe tribes. In the interval from Moreyra to Thomar the Rio Negro receives, on the southern side, the Urarira, whose margins were possessed formerly by the valorous Manao Indians, who extended themselves as far as the river Chiuara. They admitted two gods—one the author of good, denominated Mauary, the other of evil, called Sarauhe. Their idiom prevailed amongst the other tribes with whom they lived. On the northern margin it receives the river Uerere, whose territories were, in other times, inhabited by the Carahyahy and Uaryhua nations; and the Padauiry, opposite the town of Thomar, which is a large river of white-coloured water, and traverses the lands of the ancient Oremanaos, gathering on the left the Uexie Mirim.
Ten miles above Thomar is Lamalonga, an Indian povoaçao of Manaos, Bares, and Banibas, situated on the right bank of the Rio Negro. Some dispute between the Captains Alexander de Souza Cabary and Joze Joam Dary, residents of Thomar, occasioned the latter to retire with his people to this situation, where they founded a church dedicated to St. Joze; it was afterwards augmented by the Indians of the aldeia of Auacyhyda, which was ten miles higher up the river.
Fifty miles beyond Lamalonga is the parish of St. Izabel, an Indian povoaçao of Uaupes, on the southern bank of the Rio Negro, which, in this interval, receives, on the right, the Chibaru and Maba, and, on the left, the Hyhyaha and Daraha.
Sixty miles above St. Izabel is the aldeia of Maracaby, on the northern margin of the Rio Negro, whose current is here very violent, in consequence of the stones which overspread its bed, occasioning the canoes to be unloaded. In this interval the rivers Hyurubaxy, Uayhuana, Uenenexy, and Chuiara, enter the Rio Negro on the right: the first forms large lakes above its bar, and communicates with the Hyapura. The rivers Marauya, Hyarudy, Inabu, Abuara, Sabururuha, Diba, and Cauabury enter it on the left. The margins of the Marauya, which were formerly inhabited by the Caranaos, who made a very long resistance to the Manaos, have cocoa and sarsaparilla near the serras; these productions are also common on the borders of some of the other rivers.