The most considerable mountains are on the northern part, and are branches of the serra of Paricis.
Mineralogy.—Gold, diamonds, crystals, granite, minerals of iron, potters’ earth, calcareous stone.
Phytology.—The opuncia is common in various situations; in others the ipecacuanha; indigo grows spontaneously in humid lands; jalap is well known; also the trees of cupahiba, almecega, or gum-mastich, manna, and dragons’ blood. There is a diversity of excellent timber for building, and abundance of oranges, goyabas, aracas, mangabas, pine-apples, water-melons, and bananas, generally of good quality. The objects of cultivation are Indian corn, mandioca, rice, legumes, tobacco, cotton, and the sugar cane, as far as it is required for the consumption of the population.
European merchandise and some Asiatic productions arrive here at an exorbitant price, and are only procured in exchange for gold.
Zoology.—All the species of wild quadrupeds which are encountered in the maritime provinces are here common; of domestic animals cattle only are numerous; sheep are rare; and, hitherto, there are no breeders of mules. Here are common the emu ostrich, sereima, mutun, jacu, tucano, parrot, partridge, heron, guiraponga, and jaburu.
Industry is very limited; and the weaving of coarse cottons, for labourers, and curing of hides, which exceed the demand, are its principal objects up to this period.
Rivers.—The Guapore originates nearly one hundred miles to the north-east of Villa Bella, and, after eighty miles of southern course, and nearly the same distance of western, curves towards the north-west, and afterwards to the west-north-west. Two miles above the said town it receives by the left the Alegre, which coming from the east, and rising in the serra of Aguapehy, is joined on the left by the Barbados, ten miles from its mouth. Ten miles below the capital the Guapore is united on the right by the river Sarere, which has its source thirty miles to the west of it; and fifty miles lower, on the same side, by the Galera, which forms itself to the north-west of the Sarere. Twenty-four miles further the important river Verde is incorporated with it; and upwards of one hundred miles in advance, the river Paragau; after two hundred more, the Baurus or Baure; and twelve or fifteen further, the Tunama; all four by the left margin, after having watered a great portion of the province of the Moghos, or Moxos. Upwards of fifty miles below the mouth of the last river, it is joined also on the left side by the voluminous river Ubay, or Ubahy, which the Spaniards formerly denominated the Chiquitos, as it traversed the lands of the Indians so called, and subsequently the Magdalena, named St. Miguel, after they had founded in its vicinity the parishes of those names. To the river Guapore the people of Matto Grosso give the name of Mamore, as far as its junction with the large one of that name, which they call Madeira and the Spaniards Mamore. This confluence is one hundred and ten miles lower down, and one hundred and fifty by water.
The Spaniards commonly give to the Guapore the name of Itenez, which they continue to it till its confluence with the real Mamore, where both lose their names, and form the majestic Madeira, which flows northward till it incorporates with the mighty Amazons. The margins of the Guapore, or Itenez, are principally swampy, and, with the rivers which run into it, uncongenial to European constitutions. The rivers which join it by the right margin, the largest not exceeding one hundred miles in course, issue from the western side of a continuation of the serra of Paricis, which prolongs itself with the same river. The Cabixy, Piolho, Corumbyara, Mequen, St. Simam, and Cautario, follow the aforesaid Galera.
There are five falls in the Guapore, from the mouth of the Ubahy to the confluence where its name is lost. Guajuru-mirim, Guajuru-grande, Bannaneira, Paugrande, and Lages, descending, are the names by which they are distinguished.
The Jauru, which forms itself in the campos of the Paricis, thirty miles east of the Guapore, after flowing a long way southward, gathers, by the right bank, the Bahia and the Aguapehy, inclines to the east-south-east, and unites itself with the Paraguay, in the latitude of 16° 24′. It is navigable for a great distance, and runs principally through a flat country covered with woods. At a short distance from its margin, there is a nitrous lake, which furnishes a great quantity of salt.