A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

to introduce some remarks on the province of Rio de Janeiro, from the pen of my friend, the Baron Yon Langsdorff. His communication is dated November 20, 1820. The province of Rio de Janeiro, being situated on the confines, and without the tropic of Capricorn, is in general, in consequence of that situation, less warm than the countries which lie near the line. The whole territory extending 90 leagues in length and 35 in breadth is mountainous, with the exception of the district of Goytacazes

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

of the Population of the Country, and of the various Classes which compose it 35 CHAP. IV. Voyage to St. Catherine's. Description of that Island, and of the Coast in its Vicinity. Arrival at Santos, and Journey thence to St. Paul's 45 CHAP. V. Description of St. Paul's. System of Farming prevalent in its Neighbourhood. Excursion to the Gold-Mines of Jaragua. Mode of working them. Return to Santos 67 CHAP. VI. Coasting Voyage from Santos to Zapitiva, and Journey thence to Rio de Janeiro 88 CHAP

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

healthy, is the residence of all the people of consequence. Its population is said to be nearly equal to that of Rio de Janeiro, and is stated at not less than seventy thousand souls. The houses are built with latticed windows and balconies, similar to those in Rio de Janeiro. The churches are the public buildings most worthy of notice: they are said to be richly ornamented within. The government of the city is vested in a viceroy, or governor, who is nominated by the court for three years. Here

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES, WITH DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. 1. View of the Square at Rio de Janeiro to face the Title 2. Peon catching Cattle Page 32 3. Horizontal Corn Mill and Pounding Machine * 190 4. Map of the Author's Route 195 5. Topaz Mine (described p. 232) and Diamond-washing 314 6. Negroes washing for Diamonds, Gold, c. 317 * NOTE. Of the objects in the lower compartment of this plate, the Pine is mentioned at p. 81; the Aloe at p. 130; the Cara is described at p. 97, and the Maadioca

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

relations of llio de Janeiro, though considerably augmented, were still but in their germ. I shall proceed to state them according to the best information I was then able to procure. The imports hither from the River Plate, and from Rio Grande de St. Pedro, consist in immense quantities of dried beef, tallow, hides, and wheat. Those from the United States are chiefly salt provisions, flour, household furniture, pitch, and tar. The North Americans generally send cargoes of these articles on

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

employed in going from one place to the other. The journey is much longer than to Rio de Janeiro, but the country is less mountainous; there are fewer ranchos or hovels on the road, and in one part it is requisite to carry fresh water for two days' consumption. The commodities sent from Tejuco to Minas Novas are very trivial, consisting of smuggled gold, chrysoberyls, topazes, amethysts, and other stones; in return for which are brought English fine manufactured goods, paricularly hats

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

CHAP. VI. Coasting Voyage from Santos to Sapitiva, and Journey thence to Rio de Janeiro. WE left S. Paulo at ten in the morning, and took the same road to Santos by which we had come, there being no other, fit to travel. On the following day, before noon, we arrived at Cubatao, where we were detained by rain, until four in the afternoon. About seven we arrived at Santos, and as we were provided with a letter of introduction to a judge, and another to a merchant, we relied on a kinder welcome

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

tom-House are disposed to allow is such, as to render that nefarious practice unnecessary. It may not be improper in this place to describe the consequences produced in Rio de Janeiro by the excessive commercial speculations into which our merchants entered, immediately after the emigration of the Court of Portugal, and which could only be equalled by those which followed our expeditions to the Rio de la Plata. Owing to the incredible competition or struggle among our merchants, who should

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

the expedition as my two years' residence in the country enabled me to perform. At the termination of that expedition, I went to Rio de Janeiro. A letter of introduction to the Viceroy of Brazil, B [page]

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

iron better and is superior to our oak. The manners and customs of the people differ little from those of the inhabitants of the capital; but it is said that in the best societies here, more gaiety and refinement prevail, and the higher classes are more sociable, than in Rio de Janeiro. A taste for music is general; there are few houses without the guitar, and all the more respectable families have piano-fortes. The ladies dress in the English style, and ornament, themselves with gold chains

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

other commodities of greater bulk and inferior value, would scarcely pay the expense of carriage. Hence no cotton, coffee, or sugar is grown for exportation, and the quantity consumed in the district is very limited, owing to the small number of the inhabitants, and the miserable indigence in which they generally live, their common diet being Indian corn-flour, boiled beans, and a little pork. The trade to Rio de Janeiro is much similar to that of Minas Novas, and consists chiefly in iron, salt

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

landing in Rio de Janeiro, it is left on the quay exposed for days to the rain. The vicinity of Rio Grande is extremely populous; in a circuit of twenty leagues, the inhabitants, including the troops, are estimated at 100,000. Their principal occupations are, the breeding of cattle, for which the immense tract of pasture-land is so well calculated; the drying and preparing of hides, and the making of charque, or what [page] 44

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

ment. There can be no doubt that the present enlightened ministers of the court of Rio de Janeiro will endeavour to promote the sciences among a people so capable of attaining a proficiency in them, and of converting their acquirements to useful purposes. From the introduction of such a measure, might be dated a total change in the moral character and general habits of the Brazilians; instruction would be imparted to all classes, emulation would be enkindled among them, and useful knowledge

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

CHAP. VI. Coasting Voyage from Santos to Zapitiva, and Journey thence to Rio de Janeiro. WE left St.Paul's at ten in the morning, and took the same road to Santos by which we had come, there being no other, fit to travel. On the following day, before noon, we arrived at Cuberton, where we were detained by rain, until four in the afternoon. About seven we arrived at Santos, and as we were provided with a letter of introduction to a judge, and another to a merchant, we relied on a kinder welcome

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

with latticed windows and balconies, similar to those in Rio de Janeiro. The churches are the public buildings most worthy of notice: they are said to be richly ornamented within. The government of the city is vested in a governor, who is nominated by the court for three years. Here all law proceedings, civil and criminal, come before the tribunal, called Rella as, the sentence of which is in general final, though appeals in certain cases may be made to a higher tribunal, called the Dezembargo

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

, river, 431, 441. Pardo, river, 429. Pecari, or pig of the woods, 88. Peons of Paraguay,28. Mode of catching cattle,29. Their habits of life, 34. Dress, 36. Exploit of a female, 37. Pernambuco, account of, 402. Piabunha, river, 204. Piranga, 276. Plata, Rio de la, voyage to, 1. Origin of the name, 441. Porto Negro, near llha Grande, 128. Pounding machine for Indian corn, 190. Purpura, a shell of the murex genus, 70. REGISTRO Velho, 222. Resequinha, 223. Rio de Janeiro, arrivai at,, 133

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

expenses are very exorbitant, though the only articles wanted may be a few casks of water, and a hundred weight or two of bread. Ships are loaded in Rio de Janeiro, and other ports of Brazil, as well as in the Plata, by lighters, which are very expensive, and difficult to be procured when many ships are receiving their cargoes; good boats are extremely useful and necessary. When a vessel enters any of the ports, the health-boat and custom-boat make a visit before she anchors, and their report is

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

, which is situated between the two celebrated rivers called Rio dos Velhos and Parauna. This mountain is very large and well wooded; the stratum is calcareous, and contains many caves furred, as it were, with nitrate of potass. Since Government has made nitre an object of commerce, and encouraged its production, many families have settled at this place, and have collected large quantities of this saliferous substance, which, after several operations, is sent to Rio de Janeiro, where it is

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

raw hide. The average burden is nine arrobas, nearly equal to three hundred pounds weight, the carriage-expence of which, from Rio de Janeiro to Minas Novas, is six or seven pounds sterling; to Tejuco five pounds; to Villa Rica about three. The trade to Minas Novae from Rio de Janeiro consists principally in negroes, iron, salt, woollens, hats, printed cottons, hard-ware, arms, and some fancy articles, a little wine and oil, salt-fish, and butter. Few luxuries enter these remote parts, the

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

found the mouth of the large and interesting river, the Tiet *. The distance between the rivers Tiete and Pardo, according to the windings of the Parana, may be estimated at thirty-five * This river being the grand channel of communication from Rio de Janeiro, Santos, S. Paulo, and other places, to the interesting districts of Cuiaba, Matto Grosso, the whole of Paraguay, the river Plata, Potosi, Chiquisaca, and a great part of Peru, I have preserved the particular detail given in this paper, of its

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

Thames*, by means of which the cascalho might be raised, even from a depth of twenty feet. The requisite iron-work might be prepared in Rio de Janeiro, (if necessary,) and admitted into the mining country, free of duty: there would probably be such an increase of gold obtained by it, that the proportionate augmentation of the royal * Since my return, His Excellency the Conde de Funchall, ordered a model of a ballast-lighter, which I got constructed for him, and which will one day or other be

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

though sometimes they occur perfectly crystallized, in the same form as the yellow topaz. Blue topazes and agua-marinas are also found here; some of the former are of a singular variety, being in one part blue, and in the other, clear and pellucid. This neighbourhood is also noted for producing the beautiful chryso-beryl, which is much esteemed by the higher orders of society in Brazil, and in great request among the jewellers of Rio de Janeiro. These gems rarely occur crystallized; they sell

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

stated, he might have rendered it rich and independent. As all the diamonds found in these works belong to the crown, the royal family have been accustomed to select from the quantity annually, remitted whatever stones they considered worthy their notice, which were generally those exceeding seventeen carats. They were formerly sent to Holland to be cut, the Dutch being the contractors of the diamonds, from the first discovery of the mines; but since the emigration of the court to Rio de Janeiro

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

introduced for cabinet use, that from the East Indies excepted. I do not say any thing of indigo, as it is in general inferior. Rice of excellent quality is cultivated to great extent. Tobacco, it is to be hoped, will be better cured, to suit the English market; for no where can a soil and climate be found more favourable to the production of that plant than in Brazil. Since the emigration of the court from Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro may be truly called the mart of South America, and is likely to

A808    Beagle Library:     Mawe, John. 1812. Travels in the interior of Brazil, particularly in the gold and diamond districts of that country. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.   Text   PDF

planters from Minas Novas, who were going to Rio de Janeiro with forty-six mules loaded with cotton, packed in raw hides, each beast carrying two packages. They had been nearly three months on the road. We availed ourselves of their kind offers to carry intelligence to our friends in the capital, and gave them letters for that purpose. The remainder of our day's journey afforded few incidents worth notice. We observed several pines of a singular species, which yielded abundance of resin. In one