This province, created in the year 1720, being until that period a portion of that of St. Paulo, is bounded on the north by the province of Bahia, from which it is separated by the river Verde, and by that of Pernambuco, from which it is divided by the river Carynhenha; on the south by the serra of Mantiqueira, which separates it from that of St. Paulo, and the rivers Preto, Parahibuna, and Parahiba, which divide it from the province of Rio de Janeiro; on the west by the province of Goyaz; and on the east by that of Espirito Santo, Porto Seguro, and a part of Bahia. It is nearly four hundred miles long from north to south, and two hundred and eighty of medium width, extending from 15° 30′ to 21° 40′. The climate is temperate compared with others of the torrid zone, arising from the elevated and mountainous nature of this province. The winter commences in October, always with thunder. Some years, in the months of June and July, towards the southern part, cold and frost are prevalent, and water congeals in vessels exposed to the night air. Gold, which is found in all the districts of this province, was the origin of its name, (General Mines,) and which becomes still more appropriate, since all other metals are ascertained to exist here. The discovery of this country is owing to the intrepidity of S. F. Tourinho, an inhabitant of Porto Seguro, who, proceeding up the river Doce, in 1573, traversed it as far as the Jequitinhonha, by which he descended. A few years afterwards A. D. Adorno, with a view of profiting by the mines of emeralds discovered by Tourinho, advanced, with one hundred and fifty whites and four hundred Indians, up the Cricare, and came back by the same river as his precursor. Many years had elapsed when, with the same project, M. d’Azevedo penetrated into this country as far as the lake Vupabussu. In 1793, a Thaubateno, A. Rodriguez, entered the certam of Cuyate, accompanied by fifty men; but discord interrupted their proceedings, and Rodriguez returned by the capitania of Espirito Santo, where he exhibited three oitavas (a drachm each) of gold, to demonstrate that he had traversed auriferous lands. Proceeding to Rio de Janeiro, and thence to Thaubate, he soon expired, in consequence of the exhausted state he was reduced to by the fatigues and privations of the enterprise, previously recommending his brother-in-law, Bartholomew Bueno, to persevere in this project. Impelled by the poverty to which extravagancies had reduced him, Bueno set out, in 1694, upon the enterprise, accompanied by Captain M. d’Almeida and other persons, directing their course by the heads of the serras pointed out in the diary of the late Rodriguez.