Navigators compute two hundred and fifty miles from Port Feliz to the mouth of the Pipira, and as many more from this point to the confluence of the Tiete with the Paranna.
The imperfect methods of overcoming the natural difficulties which are presented, require twenty-six days to accomplish this voyage of five hundred miles. Its course is very winding; twenty-five miles are reckoned in a direct line from Port Feliz to the mouth of the Capibary, and nearly sixty by the river.
It is fifty miles from the mouth of the Jocoaquatu to that of the Pirassicaba, and only twenty in a straight line. The bed is principally stony, with a great number of islands and falls, the most important of those precipitations are denominated Avare-Manduava, Itaguassava, Pirapora, Bauru, Barery-Mirim, Barery-Guassu, Escaramuca, Utupanema, Funil-Grande, (the Large Funnel,) Guacurytuvussu, Aracanga-Mirim, Aracangavussu, Utupeva, and Utupiru. The labour requisite to pass these falls with canoes is very great. There are above sixty other places attended with difficulty, and half that number with considerable danger, but which, notwithstanding, are passed without unloading the canoes. The banks of this river are almost universally covered with superb timber. Amongst other fruit trees are the jabuticaba, quince, cipota, jatahi, nhandipapo, and uvacupari. From the bark of some trees the aborigines and the certanistas construct canoes for the purposes of navigation; and the resin extracted from them the Indians use for lights, and for ornaments for their ears and lips. Among other species of fish it affords the doirados, saupes, pacus, piracanjuvas, surubins, piracambucus, jahus, and piraquaxiaras, some of which weigh two arrobas, or sixty-four pounds.
It would be of incalculable advantage to the internal provinces of Brazil if the government would adopt some effectual mode of diminishing the numerous natural difficulties the Tiete presents to navigation. The voyage is also prolonged in consequence of the fogs, which almost every morning deter the canoes from departure till eight o’clock, when these mists usually disappear.
The river Tibagy, which originates to the west of Cannanea, runs to the north-west, traversing the campos of Guarapuaba, where it becomes considerable from many other streams which join it, principally on the right margin; among them are the Pitanguy, Yapo, Jaguaryhiba or Jocuriahy, and the Jaguaryquatu. The Cairussu is the largest among the few which it receives on the left, and passes near the serra Doirada. It is navigable near to its heads, and enters the Parannapanema about the middle of its course.
Between the Jaguariquatu and the aforesaid Apiahy travellers from Villa do Principe to Sorocaba pass, among other smaller streams, the Terere, Verde, and Taquary, which run universally towards the west, and increase the Tibagy, or the Parannapanema. The first and southern, when it crosses the road, is hidden by a high point of rock, formed by nature, and deemed one of the wonders of the province.
The Piquiry, having its heads in the centre of the campos of Guarapuaba, towards which it affords navigation for a very considerable space, runs westward into the Paranna ten miles above the Seven Falls. In the northern angle of its mouth, in an agreeable site, was situated Ciudad Real, otherwise Guayra, demolished by the Paulistas in 1631. The detachment of Fort Iguatimim attempted to rebuild it in 1773; but the undertaking was abandoned, in consequence of every individual employed having perished in a few days by a pestilential fever, which prevails here in January, February, and March.
The Ivahy, originally Ubahy, which rises also in the campos of Guarapuaba and near to the Tibagy, from whence some certanistas transport their canoes to it, is considerable, navigable nearly to its origin, and so well stored with fish, that it has also acquired the name of Rio do Peixe, (the River of Fish.) It runs between the west and north-west, traversing an extensive territory, peopled with savage Indians, and enters the Paranna.
The river Tinto, Bom, Soberbo, Capibary, and Thua are its principal branches. The first is the northern and the last is the southern. The ruins of Villa Rica, denominated Bannanal, are situated eight days’ voyage above its mouth, and was dismantled by the Paulistas upon the same occasion on which they demolished Ciudad Real. A road connected these two places, of which at the present day there is scarcely any trace.
The Pardo issues from the comarca of St. Joao d’El Rey, where it washes the arraial of its name; and after flowing through an extensive tract westward, and collecting, amongst others, the river Araquara, falls into the Rio Grande, much below the confluence of the Sapucahy, a considerable river, which travellers to Goyaz fall in with after they enter that province from St. Paulo.