CHAP. XI.
PROVINCE OF GOYAZ.
First Discovery of Gold—Attempts of Bueno to find the Goya Territory—Settlements—Boundaries—Extent—Mineralogy—Zoology—Phytology—Cattle and Gold its Exports—Principal Rivers—Comarcas—Julgados.—District of Cayaponia—Limits—Indians—Rivers.—District of Goyaz—Limits—Mountains—Capital—Povoaçōes.—District of Nova Beira—Limits—Indians—Rivers—Povoaçōes—Indians reduced to Peace—Aldeias established for them.—District of Tucantines—Limits—Rivers—Indians—Povoaçōes.—District of Parannan—Limits—Rivers—Povoaçōes.—District of Rio das Velhas—Limits—Rivers—Indians—Povoaçōes.
This province had its origin in the year 1749, being until that time a comarca or ouvidoria of St. Paulo, so created in 1737, and colonized by adventuring miners.
The first intelligence of this territory possessing gold was given by Manuel Correa, a native of the town of St. Paulo de Piratininga, who found ten oitavas of this metal, which he gave as a diadem to crown the sacred image of the Lady of Penha, at the town of Sorocaba. Though the date of this circumstance is not known, it appears, by a journal found at Correa’s death, that he collected the said gold with a pewter plate in the river Aracis.
Bartholomew Bueno, who succeeded Correa in the same undertaking about the year 1670, was accompanied by his son of the same name, then only twelve years old. They dwelt some time in the vicinity of the situation where the capital of this province now stands, and observed that the women of the Goya tribe, masters of the district, ornamented themselves with gold.
The discovery of the mines of Cuiaba, in 1719, directed the attention of B. Bueno, the son, (the father being then dead,) to the territory of the Goyaz; and imparting his knowledge of the gold discovered by his father in the possession of this tribe, to Rodrigo Cezar de Menezes, that governor despatched him, with a numerous party, and one hundred muskets, in the year 1722, in order that he might go in search of and establish himself in the country.
Bueno, having lost all recollection of such signals as might have pointed out the way to the Goya district, proceeded too far to the south, and having arrived at the banks of a river, they remained there for some days, and gave it the name of Rio dos Piloes: they found there a considerable quantity of gold, which produced some dissension amongst the party, many wishing to remain in order to take advantage of it. Bueno, however, was determined upon the accomplishment of his object; and thinking that the rich treasure he was in pursuit of lay still further to the west, he proceeded in that direction for some days, when they reached a river, which they denominated the river of Perdition, in consequence of then considering themselves entirely out of the route to Goyaz. Continuing without embarrassment the same march, they encountered a larger river, and beyond this a third, which they called the Rio das Areas, in consequence of the sandy nature of its bed. Journeying onwards to the west, they found another, which received the appellation of Rio Rico, (Rich River,) from the gold which they discovered in it.
Having lost all hopes of finding the wished-for district in this direction, Bueno retraced his steps, and deviating in the way, after a prolonged and tedious journey, arrived at the river Parannan, where he considered himself still further from his object, in consequence of perceiving certain signs of cattle, which he afterwards found had strayed from the margins of the river St. Francisco in search of better pasturage.
After three years of ineffectual perseverance and disappointed labour, in quest of the enchanting land, this certanista arrived at St. Paulo with a part of his bandeira; the remainder having died from diseases and disasters inseparable from such an undertaking.
The tender age of Bueno when he accompanied his father to the district in question, and fifty years of interval, exculpated him from all blame in the unfortunate result of this enterprise; and, as he was a man of known probity, the same governor despatched him again, with every necessary succour, in the confident expectation of a more successful issue. Bueno proceeded for three months through unknown districts, without any track or road, encountering various torrents, and other obstacles of a worse nature, replete with difficulties and delay: at last he arrived at a place about eight miles distant from the present situation of the capital, where he perceived some indications of Portuguese having been there at some former period, which induced him to halt upon the spot with his companions. Two old Indians were caught, who proved to be of the Goya nation; and on being interrogated if they knew the place where some white men had been established many years ago; they replied, that it was not far distant. The caravan now moved forward again, accompanied by the two Indians, who led the way to a situation, at the present time occupied by the arraial of Ferreiro, and which Bueno immediately recognised to be the much desired spot where he had been with his father. He immediately proceeded to make the requisite arrangements for forming an establishment, and to carry into execution the objects of this enterprise.