A history of the Brazil

by James Henderson

Castro, with a church dedicated to St. Amaro, is yet a small town, but well situated at the point where the river Hyapo (of which it originally took the name) traverses the royal road. In its vicinity are found the most precious stones. After the subjugation of the savages of Guarapuava, great expectations are entertained of its increase, as well as of the cultivation of its extensive contours.

St. Joze, ten miles to the south-east of Curytiba, is agreeably elevated above the surrounding campinha, and is one mile from the left margin of the small river of its name, which, after a course of seven miles further, incorporates itself with the Curytiba.

Forty miles to the west of the two last-named towns, there is a register upon the margin of the Curytiba, where, in some years, thirty thousand mules pass to Sorocaba.

Lages, otherwise Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, is the most southern town of the province, and was never considerable, in consequence of its proximity to the savages, but is at present much reduced by their invasions. It is situated upon what is denominated the royal road, two miles north of the river Caveiras, and about one from the small Caraha, which takes the name of a species of cane or bamboo that grows in abundance upon its margins, and are the best of the province; some have so peculiar a varnish upon them, that they appear like the work of an able hand. There are excellent amolar, or grindstones, in the same stream. The country surrounding this town is of great fertility, is irrigated by many rivers, and has a temperate and salubrious climate. Legumes, wheat, Indian corn, &c. with cattle, are raised, and almost every species of fruit tree prospers; but the people, besides diminishing in number, are poor for want of an outlet for their productions. The opening of a good road, by which the farmers might with facility transmit their surplus produce to the port of St. Catharina; or perhaps better through the medium of the town of Laguna, (the road terminating in that case at the port of Guarda, from whence the Tuburao affords navigation to the said town,) would induce numerous colonies to establish themselves in this fertile territory, rendered more desirable by the fine temperature of the climate, when the aborigines would be either compelled to retire, or to submit to some mode of subjection. The many aldeias, which would necessarily be spread over this fine district, affording plains for the extensive breeding of cattle, could not fail to produce a rapid increase of the town of Lages. In such a state of things it would become the head of a populous and rich comarca.

Villa do Principe, originally St. Antonio da Lapa, is ten miles southward from the before-mentioned register of Curytiba, near the royal road. Its people are breeders of cattle, and cultivate wheat, rye, Indian corn, and divers fruits.

Five miles north of the same register, and also upon the border of the road, near a small river which contributes its water to the Iguassu, is the arraial of Thauha, possessing a hermitage of the Lady of Conceiçao.

Curytiba, the name by which this district has been recently designated, in the Brazilian language signifies curu, “pine,” and tiba, “many.” It comprises almost all the comarca, or southern part of the province, from the General Serra to the westward. The winter commences in this part about May, and lasts till September, with a south, and occasionally a south-west wind, which is colder than the first. The most common trees are the Brazilian pine. These majestic trees form extensive woods, abounding with the mountain hog, which go in herds, at times, of one hundred and more.

The fruit trees of Europe prosper here better than the indigenous ones of this continent, and amongst the former may be enumerated the fig, pear, apple, plum, peach, quince, cherry, walnut, and chestnut. The olive-trees are laden with flowers, but rarely fructify. Mandioca, the banana, coffee, and cotton trees, as well as the sugar cane, only prosper in some situations. The matte grows spontaneously, and is very common. The great consumption of a beverage made from this tree in the province, and in those of St. Catharina and Rio Grande do Sul, and also by many people in the metropolis, augurs favourably for the addition of another branch of commerce to this comarca. Bunches of grapes are frequently met with of upwards of five pounds weight; but hitherto no good wine has been manufactured.

In the year 1812 a large quantity of divers plants of the vine were sent here from Europe; and it is confidently expected that many will succeed as well if not better than in their native soil; so that with proper attention good wine may in time be produced.

The Curytibanos pass for the most powerful and robust people amongst the Paulistas. They cultivate abundance of wheat and Indian corn, with some rice; they breed cattle, horses, and mules, possess a great number of cows, and make some butter and cheese. The cows are of a large size, and afford the greatest quantity of milk in summer; that, however, which they supply in the winter is the best; the portion which in the first season yields four cheeses, in the winter produces eight. The major part of the breeders of cattle give them salt; an animal which is lean receives a greater ration, in order that it may fatten more expeditiously. It is observed, that sheep begin to die after they have pastured ten years, in whatever situation they may be. Immediately on the first symptom of the disease, which is known by the retiring of the animals towards the door of their dono, as if praying for a remedy, it is requisite to remove them to another part, and when not more than a league distant from their former pasture, the contagion will cease.