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

eight of copper; whereas, in Rio de Janeiro, the same expression implies four vengtems of copper. [page] 21

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. 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. ON my return to Monte Video, I lost no time in putting in execution my purposed voyage to Rio de Janeiro; and as advices had arrived, stating, that considerable difficulty might attend the entrance of an English ship into that port, I bottomried a Portugueze vessel, called the Vencedor, and was joined by a party of gentlemen whose business

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

rally take it to Rio de Janeiro, and lay out the proceeds chiefly in the purchase of negroes, (they being at all times the first object,) iron, salt, and other commodities. The population is very small in comparison to the extent of the district, but is likely to be increased by new settlers; although the indigent in Villa Rica, Tejuco, and other places in the mining country, are little inclined to remove out of society, even for the chance of riches: in fact, having no negroes fit to work

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

jurisdiction of the governor of St. Catherine's, who is subject, in certain cases, to the captaincy of S. Paulo, and in others to the government of Rio de Janeiro. These divisions, are 1st, St. Jose; 2d, St. Miguel; and 3d, Nossa Senhora do Rosario; the entire population of the island and its dependencies amounts to about 30,000 souls. Of the fortresses which defend this island, the most considerable is Santa Cruz before mentioned; there are four others, Porto Groed, Rato , Estreito, and Concei ao

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

through it the finest district in that country, and indeed one of the finest in the world in point of climate, the rich plain of Coritiva, will be connected with the ocean. The ridge of mountains is more than four thousand feet above the level of the sea, and there is a regular ascent for twenty leagues from their inland base, to Coritiva. On this fertile tract are fed large herds of cattle for the supply of Rio de Janeiro, S. Paulo, and other places; here are also bred mules in great numbers. 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

arrive at Sapitiva. Bayro is a pretty but poor village, built near the beach, and is chiefly noted as being the place where most of the earthen-ware, used at Rio de Janeiro, is made. The clay appears to be formed by the decomposition of feldspar. Here is a large convent, well built, and finely situated, fronting the bay and near the sea. About nine in the morning, we embarked in our canoe, which was forty feet long, covered with an awning, and rowed by six men. In the afternoon we arrived at

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

each, which they carry to the almost incredible distance of 1500 or 2000 miles. Their homeward freight consists chiefly of salt for the consumption of the cattle, and iron for the working of the mines, and goods of all descriptions. No colonial port in the world is so well situated for general commerce as Rio de Janeiro. It enjoys, beyond any other, an equal convenience of intercourse with Europe, America, Africa, the East Indies, and the South Sea Islands, and seems formed by nature as the grand

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

gentle; we were every where treated with civility, and all our enquiries were answered with the most friendly marks of respect and attention. The air, as we drew nearer the mountains, was fresh and indeed cold. Towards evening we arrived at a farm belonging to a convent of nuns in Rio de Janeiro, where we were kindly accommodated for the night. This place is most agreeably situated, and might, under skilful and industrious management, be rendered a paradise. It has excellent clay, fine timber, a

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

lor. We shortly afterwards arrived at a village called Barbacena, situated on a commanding eminence, in a most fertile country, and apparently containing about two hundred dwelling-houses. While we stopped to take some refreshment, numbers of the inhabitants came to look at us, having never before seen Englishmen, and being on the rack of curiosity to know the objects of our journey. At this place two great roads from the mining country unite, and form the main road to Rio de Janeiro. That 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

exceedingly dear, and candles were more than double the price at which they sell in this country. Though our arrival in the town excited some surprise, as we were the first of our nation who had visited it, yet the people did not regard us entirely as strangers, many of them having seen Englishmen in their frequent intercourse with Rio de Janeiro. My worthy companion had letters to some of the principal shopkeepers, which we took an early opportunity of delivering. When we spoke to them of the richness of

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

expense of thirty shillings, than they would to obtain forty-shillings worth of butter, though it were only to cost them five. It may be expected that I should assign some reasons for entering so frequently into detail upon one of the simplest branches of rural economy. I have to observe, then, that ere I left Rio de Janeiro to undertake this journey, I was informed that the cheese generally consumed in that capital, and regarded there as a luxury, was the pro [page] 27

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

they had shewn me, and received from them the most obliging assurances of friendship, and the kindest wishes for my welfare. I also, much to my regret, took leave of my valued friend and fellow-traveller, Mr. Good all, whose affairs required him to go to St. Jo o D'El Rey, and thence return to Rio de Janeiro. Never was a traveller more fortunate in a companion; always cheerful and in spirits, he had the happy faculty of regarding every thing [page] 28

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

consequences. This article is so necessary for the support of the cattle, that their very existence depends on it, yet it is encumbered with a heavier duty than any other article of import, iron alone excepted. Surely, when it is considered that vast herds are daily sent from this province to Rio de Janeiro, each paying a toll of nearly twelve shillings on crossing the river Paraibuna, the impolicy of this duty must be self-evident, because, in raising the price of the commodity to an excessive degree

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

Maranham. It is transported to Rio de Janeiro on mules, and many hundreds of those useful animals are continually * In some of the low swampy tracts large serpents are not uncommon. At Tejuco I was shown the skin of a young one, of the Boa Constrictor genus. It was twenty-four feet in length, and about twenty inches in circumference. These formidable reptiles have been killed forty feet long! the strength of such a serpent is not easily to bft imagined; they have an undulating motion, and carry their

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

impress men levied for service in Rio de Janeiro. They are employed exclusively in the mining country, which they never quit, except when they escort dia- * From all accounts relative to the Indians, either by the officers employed against them, and better acquainted with their habits than other men, or from any of the settlers who live near the coast, it docs not appear that they have the smallest knowledge of gold or of precious stones; hence they can in no degree have contributed to the discovery

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

country where mines of gold and diamonds are found, the riches of the inhabitants must be immense, and their condition most enviable; the Portuguese themselves, who reside in the mining districts, encourage this supposition; and whenever they go to Rio de Janeiro, do not fail to make all possible show and parade. But let us view them in the centre of their wealth; and as a fair criterion of the middling classes of society, let us select a man possessing a property of fifty or sixty negroes, with

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

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 refined for the great powder-manufactory recently established near that city. In various places are found the finest clays in great plenty, fit for porcelain and earthenware of every description, which are entirely neglected. In other parts I saw cyanite, actinolite

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

, when we met with two 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

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

city of St.Paul's; fresh adventurers arrived in great numbers, bringing with them all the negroes they had means to purchase. Other adventurers went from St. Paul's to Rio de Janeiro to procure more negroes, their own city being drained; and thus the news of the lately discovered gold-mountain being made known in the Brazilian capital, men of all descriptions went in crowds to this land of promise by the way of St.Paul's, which was the only route then known. The first settlers might have

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

cloths, and other manufactured goods; also hams, cheese, butter, porter, and other articles of consumption. Mules from Bahia and Rio de Janeiro came loaded with them. Great complaints were made among the shopkeepers of the bad quality of the cotton goods, and of their losing their colours in washing. Some of the principal inhabitants exclaimed against the introduction of foreign luxuries, and rather wished that their trade with England should furnish them the means of working their iron mines

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

league and a half south of the settlement, forms a large bay, called Rio de Janeiro. The river Cuiaba has its sources forty leagues above the town, and its banks are cultivated through the greater part of its extent, including fourteen leagues below the town, down the stream. Four leagues below the principal mouth of the river Porrudos, the Paraguay is bordered by the mountains that separate it from Gaiba on its western bank, and in this place they obtain the appellation of serra das Pedras de

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

improvement for the planters of Brazil, and next, to the improvements by which its lands from their superior quality and their convenient situation might serve, in part, to supply Rio de Janeiro with its productions, and might sustain a great number of excellent cattle to be fattened for the consumption of that city. I anticipated the fate of these observations before I wrote than; for practice is widely different from theory, particularly to those who were never for a moment engaged in considering such

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

, and large quantities of which are felled and embarked for Rio de Janeiro and the Plata. Canoes are made here, at a cheaper rate and in greater numbers than in any other part of Brazil. The inhabitants grow rice in considerable quantities, as well as some coffee and sugar, but such is their indolence and poverty that they use only hand-mills, consisting of two horizontal rollers, in manufacturing the latter article. Into this bay fall several streams formed by the mountain torrents and springs, and

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

longer, I should have devoted some time to a geological tour in that district; but having urgent reasons to hasten my departure for Rio de Janeiro, I had leisure to take only one excursion of this kind. The governor invited me to visit the old gold-mines of Jaragua, the first discovered in Brazil, which were now his property, together with a farm in their vicinity, distant about twenty-four miles from the city. We travelled along a tolerable, and in some places, fine road, in a southerly

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

will, which the inhabitants of the interior, less frequently imposed upon, are ever ready to acknowledge and to satisfy. Thus disappointed, we resolved not to wait at Santos for a ship, but to proceed to Rio de Janeiro, along the coast, in a canoe. Having hired one we embarked, and after rowing all night in a strait between the continent and the island of St.Omar, which forms one of the passages to Santos from sea, we arrived by sun-rise at Bertioga, situated at the north end of that island