A history of the Brazil

by James Henderson

The fortunate Bueno now returned to his country, with the intelligence of having discovered the long sought-for district, which was traversed by five streams, all having abundance of gold; a pretty considerable portion of which he presented at the same time, in confirmation of those glad tidings. He soon received the commission of Captain Mor Regente, and proceeded to rejoin his colony in the year 1726.

Having arrived at the new arraial, his first care was to adopt the best mode of living in harmony with the Goyaz, the only tribe in the district, and from whom the name of this province was derived. The Indians were, however, suspicious of their new visitors, and posted themselves with their arms in the situation where the arraial of Barra is now seen; but Bueno adopting the artifice of seizing some women, the Goyaz desisted, at the same time offering to point out those places which afforded the largest quantity of gold, and which were at and near the situation now called Ponte do Meio, and where a piece was soon found, which, when purified, produced half a pound of gold. The whole colony laboured in contentment, and without envying the miners of Cuiaba.

The fortunate circumstances of their situation soon becoming known, and the dangers to which persons were exposed who directed their course to Cuiaba, attracted so great a number of miners to Goyaz in the course of two years, that the necessaries which daily arrived with the numerous caravans and troops from St. Paulo, (to which city alone there was any track or road,) were inadequate to their subsistence. Every thing sold at an exorbitant price; of gold there was enough, but it could not supply sustenance. An alqueire of Indian corn cost six or seven oitavas of gold; and the same measure of the flour of mandioca ten oitavas. A milch cow, which appeared there, was bought for two pounds weight of the same metal, and a hog for twenty-eight. Two oitavas of gold were demanded for a pound of sugar; and every article of subsistence was procured only by payment in the same proportion. The dealers who conveyed the necessaries of life by a tedious journey were enriched; but the mines were still more lucrative at this period. Many were at length induced to devote a portion of their time to the cultivation of the necessaries of life, that the gold which they collected might not be consumed in payment for them.

This province, in the centre of Brazil, and ranking amongst the largest in the state, is confined on the north by the provinces of Para and Maranham; on the west by Cuiaba, from which it is separated by the river Araguaya; on the south by Camapuania and the province of St. Paulo; and on the east by the provinces of Minas Geraes, and Pernambuco, which are divided from it by a cordillera, stretching north and south, stony and barren, and which alone affords passage at the largest openings, denominated boqueiroes; each portion taking its particular name, and the northern being the most elevated. The length of this province is about seven hundred miles, computing from the confluence of the Araguaya with the Tucantines to that of the Pardo with the Parannan, and its width proportionable. It lies between 6° and 18° of south latitude; the rains only prevail during the thunder peculiar to these climates, which commences in October and terminates in April.

The aspect of this province is almost universally uneven, although in few parts mountainous, having many portions called catingas, not favourable to cultivation.

The soil is only fertile where there are woods, with which it does not abound, if we except the districts of the capital, Meia Ponte, Pilar, and St. Luzia, by the margins of the Corumba. Admiration is excited by the wood called Matto Grosso, (Large Wood,) upwards of thirty miles in width, upon the road of Meia Ponte to the capital, about the centre of that interval, and its length extending from the river Almas to the centre of Cayaponia.

Mineralogy.—Gold, diamonds, crystals, granite, calcareous stone, minerals of iron, mineral salt, a diversity of argils, &c. The largest fifth on gold here was of one hundred and sixty-nine thousand and eighty oitavas, in 1753, and the smallest of eleven thousand eight hundred and ninety-three, in 1807. This diminution arises from not working into the mountains, which, no doubt, abound with this metal.

Zoology.—This province abounds in cattle. Goats are few in number, and almost of no utility. Sheep are somewhat more numerous; little advantage is, however, derived from their wool, which might be easily rendered subservient to some branches of industry. Very few more hogs are bred than what are for the consumption of the country. Horses are also bred; those of Parannan are esteemed the best. Deer are every where numerous, and their skins furnish a branch of commerce. The ounce, anta, the wild hog, wolf, monkey, hare, tamandua, cotia, quati, paca, with many other species of quadrupeds, common in the adjacent provinces, are here well known and much pursued by the hunter. Some are esteemed for the flesh, some for the skin, and others for both. Partridges and the emu ostrich are met with upon the plains. The mutun bird inhabits the wood, and by its song invites the fatal attacks of the hunter. The tucano, the torquaze pigeon, the aracuan, the araponga, and the jacu, are numerous. A great part of those creatures are devoured in a raw state by the Indians, without salt or any kind of seasoning.

Phytology.—There are a variety of medicinal plants, divers sorts of palm trees; the large jatuba affords gum copal. The Brazil wood, and similar valuable timber, is here of no utility, in consequence of the great distance of any maritime town. The tobacco plant is cultivated with great advantage where the soil is substantial. From the fruit of the mamona tree is extracted oil for lights. The cotton tree prospers in many parts, and its wool constitutes a branch of commerce, which is beginning to be advantageous to the population. The sugar cane is cultivated in many districts, and employs various engenhos; the greater part of its juice is converted into spirit, and some sugar, called rapaduras. The flour of mandioca, Indian corn, and legumes, are the most abundant productions of agriculture. The fruit of the araca, the pine-apple, the mangaba, the goyaba, the banana, jabuticaba, the ambuo, are common, and of various qualities. Oranges and water-melons are excellent. Quinces are small and insipid; but a large quantity of doce, or preserves, is here made of them. The vine trees grow to a remarkable size in some districts, and produce fruit abundantly twice a year. Wine is made of the grapes in the dry season, which is yet very indifferent; such as are produced in the winter season serve for vinegar, and afford a good substitute for that of Europe.

The cochineal plant is very common, but, hitherto, not appropriated to the production of that insect. Many parts are well adapted to the produce of indigo, the culture of which receives here no attention. The productions of those two vegetables, from their great value, are the only ones which the agriculturist of these districts could convey to the maritime ports with any considerable profit and security. The trees of incense, senna, and manna, are not unknown. Campeche and a species of rhubarb are also met with.