CHAP. XXV.PROVINCE OF GUIANNA.
Boundaries—Islands—Rivers—Towns—Indians.
Guianna forms the eastern and southern portion of the region denominated Terra Firma, confined on the north by the ocean and the river Oronoco; on the south by the Amazons; on the east by the ocean; and on the west by the rivers Hyapura and Oronoco.
The Portuguese Guianna, which includes that belonging to the French since 1809, comprises the southern part of that vast province and celebrated island, and is bounded on the north by the Spanish possessions and Surinam: the other boundaries are those already mentioned. It is nine hundred miles in length from east to west, and three hundred at its greatest width, and extends from 6° north to 4° south latitude. The days and nights, with very little variation, are equal all the year, and the climate is exceedingly warm. The territory is not generally fertile, and has more of a flat than mountainous aspect. In many parts of the interior it is very stony, with indications of ancient volcanos. It is irrigated by many navigable rivers, some of which originate in an extensive range of mountains, of no great altitude, prolonged with the Amazons from east to west, but at a considerable distance from it.
Trees are only of magnitude in the vicinity of the rivers and in the substantial and humid soils. The most useful are those of the clove, pechurim, capivi, Indian rubber, and cocoa.
Minerals of iron have been found; there are symptoms of silver, and some stones of estimation.
North Cape (Cabo do Norte) is the principal cape, situated in 2° north.
Islands.—Terra dos Coelhos is between the mouths of the Aruary and the Carapapury, with a channel on the west and the ocean on the east, on which side is the point called North Cape above mentioned.
Maraca is an island eighteen miles in length, with proportionable width, a little to the north-west of the Coelhos. It has in the centre a large lake, stored with fish, and its eastern coast is assailed by the Pororoca.
Between Macappa and North Cape a narrow channel is formed by the islands which range along the coast; and here is remarked a singular phenomenon, denominated pororoca, (the same term we have already described as given to the contention of the waters at the mouth of the Mearim, in the province of Maranham,) which continues three days, at the periods of the change and full moon, when the tides are at the highest. An immense volume of water, twelve to fifteen feet in height, rolls from one beach to the other, followed by a second, and third, and sometimes a fourth, of equal magnitude, with little interval, and with such prodigious rapidity that it destroys every thing opposed to its overwhelming course. The tide, in place of gradually rising in six hours, reaches its greatest height in one or two minutes, with such a terrific noise that it is heard seven or eight miles off.
The island of Penitencia, called Baylique by the Portuguese, in consequence of the tossing which the canoes here sustain from the sea, is six miles long, and sixty south of North Cape.
The islands of Croa are five in a file, separated by narrow channels, and lie to the south-west of Baylique. The whole are flat, and covered with mangroves, where there is an infinity of musquitos and insects.
The river Nhamunda, by corruption Jamunda, divides this vast province into eastern and western, serving also for a limit between the jurisdictions of the ouvidores of Para and of Rio Negro.
Rivers.—In the western part are, first, the Hyapuru and the Rio Negro; afterwards the Rio Branco (White River); the Matary, with two mouths; the Urubu, communicating with the river Aniba by the great lake Saraca, which is near the Amazons, and is there discharged by six mouths.
In the eastern part are the Trombetas, originally Oriximina, large, and entering the Amazons below Rio Negro; the Gurupatuba; the Anauirapucu, by corruption Arannapucu, the Vaccarapy, and the Aruary, which enters the ocean.
The river Hyapura originates in the province of Popayan, and, after having watered eleven hundred miles of country, running towards the south-east, forming numerous islands of all dimensions, incorporates itself with the Amazons by its several mouths. Its adjacent lands are flat, inundated, and bad: Caqueta is its first name in the country where it rises.
The Rio Negro rises also in the province of Popayan, to the north-east of the Hyapura, with which it runs parallel an equal distance. Forty miles before it enters the Amazons it is divided into two unequal branches. Condaminesays that he measured the eastern branch, ten miles from the Amazons, and that he found it in the narrowest part seven thousand two hundred and eighteen feet in width. This river augments considerably as it approaches the Amazons, is in parts from twelve to eighteen miles in width, and is divided into various branches by numerous islands, which render the navigation not unfavourable. Its water exhibits such a dark aspect that it has been said to appear like black ink; it is, notwithstanding, transparent, diuretic, and salubrious, retaining its clearness for many leagues after it enters the bed of the Amazons. It has the same fish as the latter, and affords navigation to the centre of various districts. The greatest floods are in August. We will describe its numerous confluents, together with the povoaçoes upon its margins.
The towns of the eastern portion of the province are
MacappaMazagaoVillanovaArrayollosEspozendeAlmeyrimOuteyroMontalegrePradoAlemquerObydosFaroCayenna.
The towns of the western portion are
SylvesSerpaMarippyRio NegroBarcellosMouraThomar.
Macappa is the most considerable town of the province, situated upon the margin of the Amazons, four miles north of the equator, on elevated land, with a very good fort, a church dedicated to St. Joze, an hospital, tolerable streets, and houses covered with tiles. It had its commencement twelve miles further to the west, at the embouchure of the Matapy. Its inhabitants cultivate Indian corn, mandioca, rice, some cocoa, cotton, and various fruits. Amongst other trees of estimation in its environs there is one calledquatiara, the wood of which is yellow, having black stripes; also themacacowood.
Sixty-five miles east of Macappa is Robordello, reduced to little note by the desertion of the Indians who inhabited it. It is situated upon the southern margin of the island of Cavianna, which is thirty-five miles in length and twenty in width; the land is flat and fertile, with a fine farm or fazenda of cattle, belonging to the Hospital da Santa Caza, (Holy House,) of Mizericordia, at Para. It produces themacacowood, and the whole of its circuit abounds with fish.
Villanova is situated on the eastern bank, and twenty-five miles above theembouchure of the considerable river Anauirapucu, which originates in the territory of the Armabutos. It was founded for the establishment of white people, but is going into a state of decay in consequence of its desertion by them; those who remain are cultivators of mandioca, Indian corn, and rice; and fish in the channels of the island of Croa. It possesses finecampinhasfor breeding cattle; and in its environs themacacowood grows, which is heavy,—those growing in dry lands are entirely red, and others in a different soil are shaded with black.
Mazagao originated on an island at the mouth of the Matapy, experienced several changes of situation, and was ultimately fixed five miles above the bar of the Matuaca, where it runs into the Amazons, and nearly fifteen miles west of the Anauirapucu. St. Anna was its primitive name, which it lost on the establishment in it of the people of the Praca de Mazagao, from the kingdom of Marrocos, who were afterwards augmented by various families from the Azore islands. Cotton and rice are the riches of its dwellers, who are diminishing in consequence of the prevalence of fevers. In its districts there are various excellent earths for potteries, but their productions are very indifferent.
Forty miles to the south-west of Mazagao, and near twenty-five from the Amazons, is the parish of Fragozo, on the right margin of the Jary, with a church of St. Antonio. Its inhabitants collect cloves, cocoa, cotton, sarsaparilla, &c. and advance up the Amazons in search of the tortoise. Between Fragozo and Mazagao is the parish of St. Anna, on the margin of the fine river Cajary: rice, cotton, and some cocoa, are its productions.
Arrayollos is a small town, agreeably situated upon a small hill near the eastern margin, and fifteen miles above the mouth of the Aramucu. It has two large open spaces, with some semblance to squares, a church dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Rozario, and inhabitants who are agriculturists and fishermen.
Espozende a Villota, or Small Town, in an elevated situation upon the Tubare, commanding fine views of the surrounding Campinhas, has a church of Our Lady do Rozario, and is ten miles north-west of Arrayollos. Fishing, hunting, the cultivation of cotton, Indian corn, rice, and mandioca, is the occupation of its inhabitants.
Almeyrim is a middling town, occupying an advantageous site at the mouth of the Paru, of which it first took the name, and originating in a Dutch fort, which is yet preserved. There is a diversity of excellent timber in its environs, and the inhabitants are fishermen, and cultivate mandioca, Indian corn, rice,legumes, and cotton. Twenty miles above Almeyrim is the parish of Our Lady of Desterro, at the mouth of the considerable Vaccarapy. Fishing, hunting, and the culture of cotton and common necessaries, occupy its inhabitants.
Outeyro, a middling town, well supplied with fish, is situated upon a small hill on the eastern side of the lake Urubuquara, formed by the river of the same name; it is fifteen miles from the Amazons, and sixty-five west of Almeyrim. The church is dedicated to Nossa Senhora of Graca, and its productions are similar to those of the preceding place.
Montalegre, a considerable town, also abounding with fish, is situated on the highest portion of a small island, near the eastern margin of the Gurupatuba, which forms it. It is thirty-five miles above Outeyro, and seven from the Amazons, and was one of the principal missions of the Jesuits, whose Hospicio is now the residence of the vicar. Mandioca,feijao, cotton, cocoa, and coffee, are its productions. In its district the clove-tree prospers, and it has a saw-pit, on account of the treasury, for sawing the trunks of the cedars that the floods of the Amazons deposit upon a neighbouring island.
Prado is yet a small place, upon the eastern branch of the river Surubui, twenty miles from the Amazons, and fifty west of Montalegre. Its inhabitants are Indians, and live by some agriculture, hunting, and fishing.
Alemquer is a considerable town, supplied with excellent meat, and well situated upon the central embouchure of the lake Surubui, fifteen miles from the Amazons, and fifty north of Santarem. It is a country infested with the musquito, calledcarapana. The church is dedicated to St. Antonio. Mandioca, Indian corn, rice, tobacco, and cocoa, are its productions.
Curuamanema is the name of the third and western outlet of the lake Surubui.
Obydos, formerly Pauxis, the name of the Indians for whose establishment it began, is a considerable town, upon a small hill, with some regularity, and a large square in the centre, near the eastern mouth of the Trombetas, with an extensive view of the Amazons, the whole of whose waters here rapidly descend by a channel about a mile in width, but of such profundity, that the attempts to find the bottom by sounding, have been unsuccessful. It has a magnificent church, dedicated to St. Anna, and is fifty miles west of Alemquer. The inhabitants cultivate divers necessaries of life, cotton, and a large quantity of cocoa, which is in the highest repute at the capital.
Faro is a middling town, near a large lake, traversed by the river Jamunda,forty miles west-north-west of Obydos, and above twenty from the Amazons. Its church is dedicated to St. Joam Baptista, and the soil is well adapted to the produce of cocoa, the principal wealth of its inhabitants.
Sylves is a small place, situated upon the summit of an island near the margin of the lake Saraca, eighty miles west-north-west of Faro, and twenty distant from the Amazons. It abounds in fish and the necessaries of life peculiar to the country. It has a church of St. Anna, and the inhabitants are of various classes and colours, as are those of the other towns, and cultivate excellent tobacco, cotton, cocoa, cloves, and sarsaparilla.
Serpa is a middling town upon a small island of the Amazons, near its northern bank, fifty miles from Sylves, and thirty-five below the mouth of the Madeira. It has a church of Nossa Senhora of Rozario, and inhabitants who derive a partial benefit from the rich productions that nature has bestowed upon this country.
Forty miles to the north-west of Serpa is the parish of Our Lady of Conceiçao, advantageously situated on the margin of the great lake Canuma. Its productions are among the commerce and necessaries of life. Twenty miles north-west of the preceding, and forty from the Amazons, the parish of St. Raymundo, on the margin of the Urubu, is occupied by Indians, who collect some articles of exportation. Fifty miles west of Conceiçao and forty from the Amazons, is the parish of Nossa Senhora do Socorro, near the lake of Matary, with productions similar to the preceding one.
Fifteen miles above the parish of St. Raymundo is that of St. Pedro Nolasco, also on the margin of the Urubu. Its inhabitants are Indians, and their mode of life and productions do not differ from the others.
Marippy is a middling town, on the left bank of the Hyapura, thirty miles from the Amazons, the church is of St. Antonio, and its inhabitants are an accumulation of divers Indian nations, amongst whom are the Miranhas, who possessed part of the territory between the Hyapura and the Ica. They are fishermen and hunters, and collect a portion of the productions of nature in its environs. Fevers do not permit Europeans to reside here in any number.
Rio Negro, a considerable and flourishing town, capital of the province, and head of the Ouvidoria of the same name, has a church of Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao, and is situated near a small hill, on the left margin of the eastern branch of the Rio Negro, ten miles from the Amazons. Its origin was a fort, now existing, near which various families were established, of the Bamba, Barre, and Passe nations. It is the depository of divers mercantile productions,which descend by the river, and are destined for exportation. It has a manufactory of cord frompiacaba, one for weaving cotton cloth, and a pottery, all worked on account of the treasury. The main part of the cattle killed here are embarked from the royal fazendas of Rio Branco. Above the extremity of the town the Cachoeira discharges itself, which, four miles distant, forms a handsome cataract, whose murmuring descent is heard at this place.
One hundred miles above the capital is the parish of Ayrao, with a church of St. Elias, on the southern margin of the Rio Negro. It first began upon a large bay near the capital, for the habitation of the Taruma and Aroaqui Indians. In the interval between these places the Rio Negro receives, on the southern margin, the Hyborena, and on the northern, the Ayurim, the Anauene, and the small rivers Cunamau, Mapauhau, and Uacriuan, which empties itself almost in front of Ayrao.
Moura is a small town, forty miles above Ayrao, of an agreeable aspect, and with some regularity, upon the right bank of the Rio Negro. The church is of St. Ritta, and its inhabitants are principally descendants of whites and Indian females. It originated in the assemblage of four Indian nations—the Carahyahys, Cocuannas, Mannaus, and Jumas, after which it had one or two removals previously to being fixed in its present situation. A little above Ayrao, the Jaumuhi enters the Rio Negro, and fifteen miles below Moura the Anany, both connecting the river that receives them with the Cadaya, the eastern arm of the Hyapura, through the medium of the large lake Atinineni, in whose vicinity the cupahyba, or capivi, trees abound. The Hyanapary, by corruption Jaguapiri, enters the northern margin of the Rio Negro, almost in front of Moura. This river, whose waters are white, has an extensive course. The Aroaqui Indians extend themselves from its banks to those of the before-mentioned Anauene.
Twenty-eight miles above Moura, on the southern margin of the Rio Negro, is the parish of Carvoeyro, having experienced several changes of situation, with a church of St. Alberto, and inhabitants mainly of the Manau, Parauanno, and Maranacuacena nations. Between Moura and Carvoeyro not one river enters the Rio Negro by the southern bank; on the northern the large river Branco, (White,) so called from the colour of its waters, discharges itself by four mouths, three very near, being formed by two small islands, the other, called Amayauhau, is fifteen miles above. This river is the largest confluent of the Rio Negro, and rises in the southern skirts of the serra Barocayna, receiving, on the eastern side, in the following order, the small river Macoary, the outlet of thelake Uadauhau, the river Ememeneny, the waters of the lakes Curuicu and Uariary, and the river Uanauhau. On the western margin the rivers Coratirimani, Eniuini, Ayarani, Cauame, and Ucayay.
Fifty miles above Carvoeyra is the parish of Poyares, upon the same side of the Rio Negro, ornamented with a church of Santa Angelo, and occupied by the Manao, Bare, and Passe Indians. Between Carvoeyra and Poyares the river Cauhaury enters the Rio Negro, on the southern side; and, on the western, the small rivers Uanapixi, Uaniba, and Cuaru.
Barcellos, twenty miles above Poyares, on the same margin of the river, is the largest town of the province, being for many years the residence of its governors, with a church of Our Lady of Conceiçao, and inhabitants of various classes, who are agriculturists, fishermen, hunters, and dealers. In the interval between Poyares and Barcellos the Rio Negro only receives the Uatahanary, eight miles below the latter place, on the southern side; on the northern, the small rivers Uyrauhau, Hyamurauhau, and Buhybuhy, the latter in front of the same town.
Fifty miles above Barcellos is the small town of Moreyra, on an eminence, upon the southern bank of Rio Negro. Nossa Senhora do Carmo is the patroness of its church, and its inhabitants are descendants of Europeans married to Indian females. In the interval from Barcellos to Moreyra the Rio Negro receives, on the southern side, the rivers Barury and Quihyuny, and the small rivers Aratahy and Quemehueury; on the northern, the Parataqui and the Uaraca, which receives, on the left, the Demene, upon whose margins formerly dwelt the Guianna Indians.
Thomar, a small town, fifty miles above Moreyra, with potteries along the southern margin of the Rio Negro, is situated in a country well adapted for the culture of indigo. Its church is of Our Lady of Rozario, and the inhabitants are composed of persons of divers complexions, who collect only the necessaries of subsistence. It began one hundred miles higher up, for the habitation of the Manao, Bare, Uayuana, and Passe tribes. In the interval from Moreyra to Thomar the Rio Negro receives, on the southern side, the Urarira, whose margins were possessed formerly by the valorous Manao Indians, who extended themselves as far as the river Chiuara. They admitted two gods—one the author of good, denominatedMauary, the other of evil, calledSarauhe. Their idiom prevailed amongst the other tribes with whom they lived. On the northern margin it receives the river Uerere, whose territories were, in other times, inhabited by the Carahyahy and Uaryhua nations; and the Padauiry, opposite thetown of Thomar, which is a large river of white-coloured water, and traverses the lands of the ancient Oremanaos, gathering on the left the Uexie Mirim.
Ten miles above Thomar is Lamalonga, an Indian povoaçao of Manaos, Bares, and Banibas, situated on the right bank of the Rio Negro. Some dispute between the Captains Alexander de Souza Cabary and Joze Joam Dary, residents of Thomar, occasioned the latter to retire with his people to this situation, where they founded a church dedicated to St. Joze; it was afterwards augmented by the Indians of the aldeia of Auacyhyda, which was ten miles higher up the river.
Fifty miles beyond Lamalonga is the parish of St. Izabel, an Indian povoaçao of Uaupes, on the southern bank of the Rio Negro, which, in this interval, receives, on the right, the Chibaru and Maba, and, on the left, the Hyhyaha and Daraha.
Sixty miles above St. Izabel is the aldeia of Maracaby, on the northern margin of the Rio Negro, whose current is here very violent, in consequence of the stones which overspread its bed, occasioning the canoes to be unloaded. In this interval the rivers Hyurubaxy, Uayhuana, Uenenexy, and Chuiara, enter the Rio Negro on the right: the first forms large lakes above its bar, and communicates with the Hyapura. The rivers Marauya, Hyarudy, Inabu, Abuara, Sabururuha, Diba, and Cauabury enter it on the left. The margins of the Marauya, which were formerly inhabited by the Caranaos, who made a very long resistance to the Manaos, have cocoa and sarsaparilla near the serras; these productions are also common on the borders of some of the other rivers.
After Maracaby are the parishes of Caldas on the northern bank, and almost in front of it, on the southern, is Loreto; further on, St. Pedro, on the opposite side; and afterwards St. Antonio, on the southern margin, inhabited by Bare, Macu, and Meppury Indians.
Ten miles above, on the same side, is the aldeia of St. Joam Nepomuceno: in this interval no currents enter the Rio Negro.
Forty miles further, on the opposite bank, is the parish of St. Bernardo. This interval is covered with large stones, and, having two falls, is passed with great difficulty. On the right, the rivers Maria and Curicuriau, and on the left the Uacaburu, Maruhueny, Uhuhybara, Cassabu, and Miuha enter the Rio Negro.
Twelve miles above, on the northern side, is the parish of Nazareth, occupied by Ayriney, Baremacu, and Meppury Indians.
A few miles further, on the same side, near the large falls of Crocoby, is the fort of St. Gabriel, with a povoaçao of Bares.
Continuing to advance up the Rio Negro about thirty-five miles, the parish of St. Joaquim do Coanne is met with, three miles from its southern bank, and upon the right of the Uaupe, which communicates with the Curicuriau by a channel called Inebu. In this space, where there are some dangerous places, denominated Caldeirao and Paredao, with many reefs, the Rio Negro receives two nameless streams on the right, and on the left the Mabuaby, Hyhya, and two others without names.
The above mentioned Uaupe, which is large, receives on the southern side the considerable river Tiquie, whose mouth is five days’ voyage from St. Joaquim. It took the name of the Uaupe Indians, who perforate the lower lips and ears, and carry around their necks a white cylindrical and polished stone.
Twenty-five miles above the mouth of the Uaupe is the large river Icanna; which runs parallel with it and the Uexie. Six days’ voyage upwards by the Icanna there is a large cataract; and, one day more, the bar of the large river Coyary is arrived at, that joins it on the northern side; it receives also the Mabuyauha, which rises a short distance from the Uexie.
In the upper angle of the mouth of the river Uaupe is the parish of St. Miguel; and a little higher, on the same side of the Rio Negro, is the parish of Nossa Senhora of Guia, both inhabited by Baniba Indians.
The parish of St. Anna follows on the northern bank; afterwards St. Fillipe on the southern; and, more distant, that of St. Joam Baptista, inhabited by Baniba Indians.
Fifteen miles higher, the Rio Negro receives the large river Uexie, which waters the territories of the Bannyba, Capuenna, Mendo, and Uerequenna Indians. Between this river and the Icanna, the large serra of Tunuhy prolongs itself. In the vicinity of this confluence is the parish of St. Marcellinoino.
Thirty miles above is the fort of St. Joze of the Marabytannas, also on the southern side, with a povoaçao of Arihiny and Marybytanna Indians, being the last Portuguese colony upon the Rio Negro, which after the Uexie receives no other stream on that side, but the Beturu and the considerable Dimity enters it on the northern.
The canoe-men of Para compute fifteen hundred miles from Para to this fort, and for the accomplishment of the voyage they consume nearly ninety days.
Thirty miles above the forte of St. Joze, on the northern bank of the RioNegro, is the embouchure of the river Cassiquiary, being a channel of one hundred and eighty miles, opened by nature, and forming a communication between the two immense rivers, the Oronoco and the Amazons.
In 1756, there were only eight missions upon the Rio Negro, viz. Jahu, Pedreira, Aracary, Camara, Maryua, Bararua, Camaru, and Dary. The first is the nearest, and the last is the most distant from the fort upon the bar of the said river.
Upon the margins of the Rio Branco are the parishes of St. Maria, St. Joam Baptista, Nossa Senhora do Carmo, St. Fillipe, St. Antonio, St. Barbara, and St. Joaquim with a fort, which is eleven hundred miles distant from the city of Para, and from sixty to seventy days’ voyage. The inhabitants are Indians; and the houses of the whole are covered with palm branches. Amongst the beautiful birds peculiar to the vicinity of the Rio Negro, is one called thegallo da serra, (the cock of the serra,) a little larger than the blackbird, with strong legs, having spurs like a cock, with a similar beak; its plumage is exceedingly beautiful, of an orange colour, with a bunch of feathers, in the form of a fan, open from the neck almost to the point of the bill, being of the same colour, with a rose-coloured stripe near the border. These birds are very rare.
Cayenna, a considerable town, and well situated in the northern part of the island, upon the embouchure of the river of the same name, on ground rather elevated, is encircled with walls, which are only of stone on the side of the port, where there is a gate and a wooden bridge. All the edifices are of earth, with two or three steps at the entrance. The palace of the governors is not higher, and is surrounded with orange trees, having a square in front. There is a fort, denominated the Citadel, in the most elevated situation, being almost its only defence. It is the only remarkable town in the ex-French Guianna, which that nation commonly called Equinoctial France, whose northern limit is the river Marony. In the treaty of Utrecht, the river Vincent Pinson, was named as the common limit between Portuguese and French Guianna, the engagement of the French Monarch on this subject was conceived in the following terms:
“Sa Majeste se desistera pour toujours comme elle se desiste des à present par ce traite dans les termes les plus forts, et les plus authentiques, et avec toutes les causes riquises comme se elles étoient inserées ici, taut en son nom, qu’en celui de ses hoirs, successeurs, et héritiers de tous droits et pretentions, qu’elle peut on pourra prétendre sur la propriété des terres appellées du Cap du Nord, et situées entre la riviere des Amasones et celle de Iapoe, ou de Vincent Pinson,sans se reserver on retenir aucune portion des dites terres, afin qu’elles soient desormais possedées par sa Majesté Portugaise.]”
The Portuguese and French always gave the name of Vincent Pinson to the river Oayapoek; the latter nation, after Condamine, wished the boundary line to be considered the Aguary, by them called Arauary, which discharges itself near two hundred miles further to the south-east; but the French never had any kind of establishment south of the Oayapoek.[44]The fort of St. Louiz, which changed its name to that of St. Francisco with the revolution, situated fifteen miles from the sea, on the northern margin of the Oayapoek, was always the most southern establishment of Equinoctial France.
By the treaty of Madrid, in 1801, the Portuguese crown, unwillingly ceded the territory north of the Carapanatuba. In the following year, by the treaty of Amiens, the divisionary line received twenty leagues, the river Aguary then serving as the limit, as well as subsequently to the conquest of the country.
About the year 1630, the French established themselves here, under the same evil star that has influenced all their conquests in the western hemisphere. Shortly afterwards, abandoning their establishments on Terra Firma, they removed to the island of Cayenna, where they remained till the year 1655, without the colony arriving at that flourishing state which was expected. In this year it passed under the dominion of the British government, and was retained by us till the year 1674. The Dutch took possession of it at this time, and kept it for four years.
Various obstacles were opposed to the activity of the colonists (who always lived in hopes of fortune being more propitious) to the period of the revolution, which threw every thing into a worse state; with it disappeared some small towns and Indian aldeias which were on the island and upon the continent, beginning with an Hospicio of Franciscans.
The island of Cayenna, formed by the river of the same name, the Mahory, and a narrow and winding strait by which they communicate, is twenty miles long from north to south, of proportionable width, and irregular form; the land is low, diversified with gentle elevations, and overspread with timber.The soil is sandy, and black at the surface; at the depth of two feet it is red, and is favourable to the growth of coffee, cotton, Indian corn, indigo, mandioca, and the cane. During the rainy season the vegetation is abundant for the sustenance of oxen, horses, goats, sheep, and wild quadrupeds. In the three months of most rigorous drought all these animals suffer from hunger, and many die.
There are numerous small rivers of soft water, which carry various sugar works. The channel which separates it from the continent conducts to the port the productions of that side. Notwithstanding the east wind refreshes the atmosphere every morning, the air is unwholesome, in consequence of the contiguous morasses, which breed an immensity of various species of insects, such asmosquitos, large toads, ants, and many others, that annoy the inhabitants.