Minas Geraes is the most important of the three governments in which the mines are situated. Mountains, in different directions intersect the whole of these three districts, which are called the Mine Country, from gold being found in every part of it. The inhabitants of St. Paul first discovered gold mines near the mountain Jaquara, in the year 1577. Other mines of the same metal were also discovered in 1588, on the heights of Jacobina, in the district of Rio del Velhas. Permission was obtained, though with some difficulty, from the king of Spain, in 1603, to work some of them; and in 1699, some enterprising persons found out very great treasure in the province of Minas Geraes. Three years afterwards the court of Lisbon formed the necessary establishments to render them profitable. The names of the place where gold has been found, and where, indeed, it continues at present to be found, are as follows, _Sabara_, _Rio das Mortes_, _Cachoeira_, _Paracatu_, _Do-Carmo_, _Rio-dal-Velhas_, _Rio-Dolce_, and _Ouro-Prato_. VIII. GOJAS. POPULATION. 8,931 Whites;--34,104 Negroes;--29,622 Indians. PRINCIPAL TOWN. Villa-Boa is the capital of Gojas. COMMERCE. The mines of the government of Gojas were not discovered till 1726, and are situated in the districts of _San-Felix_, _Meia-Ponta_, _O-Fanardo_, _Mocambo_ and _Natividade_. IX. MATOGROSO, or MATTO-GROSSO, Is the most western part of the Portugueze possessions, and is bounded by the Chiquites and the Moxos. These people are submitted to the Spanish yoke, through the indefatigable labours of the Jesuits acting as missionaries in that part of the world. POPULATION. 2,035 Whites;--7,351 Slaves;--4,335 Indians. PRINCIPAL TOWN. The capital of Matogroso, called Villa-Bella, is merely a large village. COMMERCE. In 1735, mines were discovered in the government of Matogroso, in _St. Vincent's Chapada_, _St. Anne's Cuiada_, _and in Araes_. OBSERVATIONS.