On its western limits it has the Spanish possessions, from which it is separated by the rivers Guapore, Jauru, and Paraguay, and on the eastern the river Paranna, which divides it from the province of St. Paulo, and the Araguaya, which separates it from that of Goyaz. It comprises nearly four climates, entering twenty leagues into the temperate zone. A country so extensive necessarily admits of a considerable variety in every point of view in which it can be regarded. Nature itself has partitioned it into three grand districts, or comarcas, of which two are divided into six smaller ones, and their limits (also natural) will become, perhaps, on some future day, those appropriated for the formation of the same number of ouvidorias, when the accumulation of its population may render such a measure desirable.
The southern district is denominated Camapuania.
| The central district comprises |  | Matto Grosso, on the west. |
| Cuiaba, central. | ||
| Bororonia, on the east. | ||
| The northern district comprises | | Juruenna, on the west. |
| Arinos, central. | ||
| Tappiraquia, on the east. |
District of Camapuania.
The rivers Tocoary, Cochim, Camapuan, and Pardo, the origin of which approximating, the three first flowing westward and the last eastward, separate the district of Camapuania into north and south, the northern limits of which is a chain of mountains, that in the latitude of about 13° extend themselves from east to west, and from whence emanate the Paraguay and its first branches to the southward, and those which form the Tapajos and the Zingu to the northward.
This district, which derives its name from the river Camapuan, is bounded on the west by the river Paraguay; on the south by the Chichuhi and Igurey; on the east by the Paranna; and comprises a tract of territory of upwards of three hundred and fifty miles square. It is a country almost universally flat, and has its woods chiefly in the vicinity of the rivers. It consists principally either of catingas (not adapted to agriculture) or plains, and is irrigated by a great number of rivers, the most considerable of which originate in a range of land from north to south, of very trifling elevation, and denominated the serra Amambuhi, dividing the canton into east and west. A vast portion of the western part is annually submerged by the inundations of the Paraguay, which in some parts covers more than seventy miles of plain.
Mineralogy.—Gold, calcareous stone, granite, variety of argils, diamonds, and other precious stones.
Phytology.—The vegetable on which the cochineal breeds, and the shrub which produces matte, are very common in various situations; a diversity of palm trees, caju-nut trees, four sorts of excellent guabiroba fruit, three of the uvaspiriticas, the fruit similar to a grape, and the plant to the strawberry. The Paraguaynians make various beverages of it.
Rivers.—The Tocoary, Pardo, Mondego, Igatimy, Correntes, Ippanne Guaçu, Miamaya, Ivinheima, and the Negro, are the principal.
The river Pardo, (Grey,) so called from the colour of its waters, is formed by the Sanguexuga and the Vermelho. The latter, of a green colour, partaking of the hue of its bed, is small, and flows from the north. The Sanguexuga, (the Leach,) so called from passing near a lake where they are excellent, originates a few miles to the south-west of the Camapuan, and is navigable for the space of five or six leagues. Its water is crystalline and excellent as far as the confluence with the former. The Pardo is considerable, and so rapid that canoes advance against its stream by the use of the vara with great labour; water falls and currents increasing more and more from its centre upwards, which render the navigation more tedious than any other river which the Cuiabanos navigate, who consume almost two months in proceeding up to the situation where the navigation of only two hundred and eighty miles terminates, computing by water. Its course is winding towards the south-east, through delightful plains at the commencement, where the navigator passes the white deer, anta, tamandua, wild hog, wolf, fox, emu ostrich, seriema, partridge, &c. which invite him to the diversion of shooting.