About ten miles distant is the serra of Mangabeira, partly occupied by various farmers of Indian corn, mandioca, and legumes.
The northern portion of this comarca is yet possessed by various aboriginal nations, such as the Cabyxys, the Cautaros, (which give their names to two confluents of the Guapore,) the Ababas, the Lambys, and the Urucurunys, with others approximating to the serra Paricis, which is an elevated range, with extensive sandy campos, or plains, upon its widely spreading summit.
District of Cuiaba.
This district, which takes the name of the river that traverses it from north to south, is confined on the north by the district of Arinos, on the west by that of Matto Grosso, on the east by that of Bororonia, from which it is separated by the river St. Lourenço, which also limits it on the south, where it terminates in an angle formed by the confluence of the said river and the Paraguay. It comprises three hundred and fifty miles from north to south, and little less than two hundred and fifty at its utmost width from east to west. It has an agreeable aspect, delightfully varied with spacious plains, superb woods, extensive charnecas, and gently undulating eminences, often rising to the grandeur of mountain scenery. The greater portion is fertilized by numerous rivers. The prevailing thunder showers of the winter season commence in September and terminate in April.
Mineralogy.—The same minerals are met with here which are found in the district of Matto Grosso.
Phytology.—There are a diversity of trees of excellent timber. Amongst other medicinal plants, is one called espigelia, the herva de cobra, (serpent herb) the jarrinha, and various qualities of the real quina, or Jesuits’ bark.
Amongst other fruits of the wood, the quince is well known, the jabuticaba, the ambuzo, the araticumo, the guabiraba, and the goyaba.
Cotton, sugar, Indian corn, mandioca, rice, and legumes, are objects of agriculture proportioned to the population.
From no part of this district can the superfluity that is produced be exported with advantage, in consequence of its present tedious and intricate communication with the maritime provinces.
Zoology.—Large herds of cattle are bred, as well as horses, some mules, hogs, sheep, and a very few goats, which hitherto are deemed useless.