We stopped with the brother of my young friend, Senor Dom Miguel Jorge Montinegro, who is keeping house in bachelor style, and places his establishment at my disposal in a way that relieves me of all embarrassment.
In descending the Ribeira it was observed that the corn did not present so good an appearance as it had done above, and in most places the banks were very low, so that the general surface of the land must be submerged in the floods of the river. When approaching the city the water spreads out into various channels, over an extensive area, again bringing up the resemblance to the Mississippi river near its mouth.
The tainha, a fine fish which frequents these waters at this season, was seen leaping up into the air to a distance of three feet.
Monday, January 22, 1866.
Having met the Rev. Ballard Smith Dunn, of Louisiana, at the hotel last evening, we found many topics of interest in rehearsing what had been seen by each of us in this country, and have spent this day together. He is acting in behalf of a number of families who desire to be informed in regard to Brazil, and has visited a portion of the provinces of Rio de Janeiro and Esperitos de Santos. He was favorably impressed with the inhabitants, and found some fine lands, yet did not conclude that it was desirable to locate in that region. He is now investigating the lands upon the tributaries of the Ribeira, and considers the soil adjacent to the waters of the Rio Jacupiranga of excellent quality, with a very promising prospect for crops of corn in most parts. In passing through, from the colony of Cananea, he reports that very fertile lands were seen, and he hopes to find in this region a desirable location for his friends. He will ascend the Rio Paricoera, and also the Rio Inquia; which latter affords an encouraging field for examination, as it is likely to be the line of communication with the great iron-works of Epanema. If he should recommend some portion of this territory for a settlement of people from the Southern States, it would strengthen very much my conviction of the advantages likely to accrue from a location in the vicinity of Xiririca, as it is extremely desirable that our people should be as far as practicable associated together.
Tuesday, January 23, 1866.
Being detained to-day in Ignape, awaiting the arrival of the steamer, to proceed to Cananea, I may note some points connected with this port of entry. It is located upon a low flat point of land, with a rugged mountain ridge rising up at a short distance from it, and the whole is surrounded by water. With a low land extending up from the city, along the Ribeira for a considerable distance, it is not a matter of surprise that the place is reported to be unhealthy, and recently there has been a very serious epidemic, bloody flux, prevailing, attended with considerable fatality, but has now ceased.
There is a very large church in the process of completion, at a central point of the buildings in the place; and the abandoned walls of an immense jail that was supposed to be in demand some years ago, but the improved morals of the population, or the want of resources, induced them to leave it unfinished. There are but few houses of two stories, conforming to the type of most of the interior towns in having one-story buildings.
The general appearance of the population does not give a favorable impression of their physical stamina, or their intellectual status, yet I have met several gentlemen of refinement and cleverness, among whom I may especially mention Dom Antonio Joaquim Rodrigues, Juiz de Direita, and my young friend Dom Miguel Jorge Montinegro, who holds the position corresponding to our District Attorney, or Solicitor for the State. The latter speaks some English, and we got on very pleasantly, in his snug bachelor’s retreat, during my stay.
Wednesday, January 24, 1865.