A history of the Brazil : $b comprising its geography, commerce, colonization, aboriginal inhabitants, &c. &c. &c.Henderson, James
History
A history of the Brazil : $b comprising its geography, commerce, colonization, aboriginal inhabitants, &c. &c. &c.
Henderson, James
Brazil; Brazil -- History -- To 1822
The islands with which this bay is ornamented are numerous, but of
inconsiderable extent. The principal is the isle of Governador,
which is little more than two leagues long, from east to west, and
proportionably wide. It is of an irregular form, having many headlands,
and small creeks, and forms the parish of Our Lady of Ajuda. The
parishioners are generally agriculturists and labourers. It is situated
almost in the middle of the bay. The isle of Bom Jesus, but better
known by the name of Frades, is about two miles long, from east to
west, and of trifling width. It is the site of a convent of lazy
Franciscans, which has a handsome and commanding appearance. The King
visits the island occasionally, on the celebration of some particular
religious festivity. He spent two or three days with the friars in
the summer of 1819. It is not far distant from his palace of St.
Christovao. The island of Paqueta possesses more natural charms than
any other in the bay, and is situated near its northern extremity. It
is about three miles long, from north to south, and of inconsiderable
width. Its whole extent constitutes the parish of Bom Jesus do Monte
(Good Jesus of the Mount.) A considerable quantity of the timber and
branches of the mango tree is exported to the capital for firewood.
Angra dos Reys, the other bay alluded to, is much larger than that
of Rio, presenting less regularity, with three entrances open to the
south, formed by two islands, Ilha Grande and Marambaya, lying in
a parallel line with the coast. The western entrance, denominated
Cayrussu, is situated betwixt Ilha Grande and Joatinga Point, on
the continent. Bom-Abrigo (Good Shelter) was the name given by the
first discoverers to this point. The entrance is eight miles wide,
possessing thirty fathoms of depth. The central entrance is betwixt the
said island and that of Marambaya, from which latter it derives its
name. It is five miles wide, with little less depth than the first. The
eastern entrance, denominated the Bar of Guaratiba, is narrow and of
little depth. The rivers Guandu and Mambucaba are the principal amongst
a great many whose courses terminate in this bay, which can boast of
some excellent roadsteads. Ilha Grande is four leagues long, with a
proportionable width, having many high mountains covered with wild
and verdant woods, and numerous fountains of crystalline water, which
produce two abundant streams. This bay has various recesses, which are
so many secure anchorage places; the creeks of Abraham, Estrella, and
Palmas are the best. This island, which lends its name to the frontier
territory of the continent, has a fertile soil, and is partially
cultivated. In the year 1811, its population amounted to three thousand
souls, at which period the parish called St. Anna was created: a
central chapel, of the same name, serves it for a mother-church. In the
creek of Abraham there is a village, which, most probably, at a future
day, will become the capital of the island.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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