The povoaçoes are Pontal and Matanca. Four hundred miles to the north of Villa Boa, and nearly fifteen from the margin of the Tucantines, is situated the arraial of Pontal, so called in consequence of a point or elbow which the river forms in its vicinity. It was founded in 1738, and has a parochial church dedicated to Senhor Bom Jesus, of Boa Morte. Its inhabitants breed cattle, and cultivate mandioca, Indian corn, legumes, and some cotton. All the different species of fruit are known here. The width of the Tucantines, at the passage from this arraial to that of Carmo, which is distant thirty-five miles to the east, is three hundred and seventy-four fathoms at the period of its greatest diminution, and more than five hundred when its bed is full. Porto Real is the name of this passage. The aldeia of Mantanca is ten miles to the north of Pontal, near the origin of a small river, which after a course of twelve miles enters the Tucantines. It is yet insignificant, in consequence of the invasions of the Indians, but it abounds with fish, game, and fruits. The salubrity of the climate, the fertility of the soil, the abundance of water, the extensive neighbouring woods, and the gold which is known to exist in the district, ought long ago to have produced an accumulating population, a great augmentation of the existing villages, and many other improvements; in which case its inhabitants would, ere this, have reduced or put to flight the hostile Indians, and, besides, would have been carrying on a great commercial intercourse with the merchants of Gram Para. None of the comarcas of this province hold so advantageous a situation for commerce. In the angle of the confluence of the Araguaya with the Tucantines, there is a prezidìo, or military detachment, to register the canoes which navigate by both rivers to the city of Para. This is the place where the before-mentioned decree of 1809 ordered the town of St. Joam das Duas Barras to be founded, for the head of the comarca of that name. It is said, however, that this project, so well conceived, was not effected, in consequence of the reefs with which this situation is encompassed, and which impeded the access of canoes. This probably was the reason of two places being founded, one upon each river, higher up.