A history of the Brazil

by James Henderson

The river Parahiba, after describing a vast winding, and irrigating many povoacaos of this province, returns towards that of Rio de Janeiro, where it has its origin and termination.

We will now describe the rivers which flow towards the ocean, and the principal ports. These are Santos, Cannanea, and Paranagua.

Eighteen miles to the north of the river Sahy Grande, a limit of the province, is the mouth of the considerable and rapid Guaratuba, formed by others that descend from the General Cordillera. This name is derived from the beautiful guara bird, which abounds upon its margins, and breeds upon a flat island, covered with mangroves, situated about seven miles from the sea, where, by a decree, no one has been allowed to kill them, otherwise these handsome birds would have long since been extirpated. Launches proceed up to the town of the same name. Its largest tributary is the river St. Joao, which, flowing a considerable distance through the pine woods, unites itself with the Guaratuba on the southern margin.

Twenty miles to the northward are the three entrances to the bay of Paranagua, formed by two islands. Ibupetuba, (or False Bar,) is the name of the southern, and Superagui that of the northern. The central and largest is five hundred fathoms in width. Mel is the name of the southern island, and Pecas the northern. This bay is twenty miles in length from east to west, more than ten at its greatest width, and of very irregular form. The most northern portion is called the bay of Pine-trees, to which the island of Pecas opens two entrances. The island of Cotinga, six miles long from east to west, and of small width, is the largest within this bay, where sumacas alone enter, and where a great number of rivulets and rivers are discharged. The most considerable is the Cubatam, which flows into it at the western extremity. The Guaraquissava is the largest that enters it on the northern side, where it also receives the Serra Negra, the Cachoeira, and the Nhundyaquara. The Gurgussu and the Almeydas are the largest which run into this receptacle on its southern side.

Twenty-five miles further, the river Ararapira disembogues, scarcely supplying depth for canoes.

Twelve miles to the north-east, which is the direction of the coast, is the bar of Cannanea. Near its northern point there is a small elevated island of the same name. In front of it, on the southern side, there is another island called Figueira, which is round; and further outward is that of Castilhos, small and of moderate elevation.

Forty miles in the same direction of north-east, is the bar of Icapara, the northern mouth of an inlet of the sea, forming an island of the intervening land. Its southern mouth is the before-mentioned bar of Cannanea. This island, hitherto unnamed, is flat, and of inconsiderable width, compared with its great length. It has some inhabitants, and the channel which separates it from the continent is narrow and deep, and is sometimes called a bay, at others a lake. Smacks enter by the bar of Cannanea; that of Icapara, having the same depth, is not navigated, in consequence of its dangerous windings.

Fifteen miles further along the coast is the large outlet of the considerable river Iguape, formed by a great number of large streams, generally serpentine, and watering a vast and mountainous country, having gold. This river is navigable for many leagues; and in the vicinity of the sea, describing large windings, forms many peninsulas, some of the isthmuses of which have been cut in order to shorten the navigation. It passes about two miles from the town of Iguape.

Thirty-five miles further are the two mouths of the river Una, up which canoes proceed more than fifty miles, to a place called Prelado.

Forty miles to the north-east is the entrance of the bay of Itanhaen, which is handsome, and takes the name of a small river discharged at its extremity.