The Indians of Brazil concur with this tradition, and assure us that the apostle St. Thomas landed at the port of Todos Santos, opposite the bar of San Vincente. Now, if to all these assertions we take into consideration the information given by the Indians to the conquerors of Peru, respecting the orgin of the cross of the settlement of Carabuco in the province of Omasuyos; if we consider the stone which was found in the curacy of Ayaviri, of the province of Yauyos; the signs at Caxamarca, and the vestiges of our religion found in a cave near Tarija, it may be inferred that it is most probable that St. Thomas did actually preach the gospel in these coun tries. [But to return to the description of the Paraná. This great river (observes the traveller Mawe), which the first discoverers considered as the chief, on account of its abundant waters, unites with the e. side of the Paraguay in lat. 27° 16'; and their united streams take the name of the Rio de la Plata, which originated in the following circumstance. Martim de Jousa, the first donatory of the captainship of St. Vicente, furnished Ålexo Garcia with an adequate escort to explore the hitherto untrodden wilds to the w. of the extensive coast of Brazil. This intrepid Portuguese, by the route of the Tieté, reached the Paraguay, which he crossed, and penetrated considerably into the interior, from whence he returned, it is said, loaded with silver, and some gold; but he halted on the Paraguay, and waited for the coming of his son, a youth of tender years, with some of his people, whilst he sent forward an account of the discovery. He was surprised by a body of Indians, who killed him, took his son prisoner, and carried off all his riches; the year following, 60 Portuguese, who were sent in search of Garcia, shared the same fate. The Spaniards who first settled on this river, seeing so much silver amongst these Indians, and supposing it to be the produce of the country, called the river La Plata. The Paraná derives its principal sources from the w. side of the mountains of Mantiqueira, 25 leagues w. of the town of Paraty. For further descriptions connected with this article, see Paraguay.] PARANA, a settlement of the island of Joanes or Marajo in Brazil; on the n. coast, at the same mouth or entrance of the river of Las Amazonas. PARANA, another, a small river of the kingdom of Brazil, which runs n. n. e. and enters the Preto or De Palma. PARANAGUA, a town of the province and captainship of San Vincente, in Brazil; situate on the shore of the river of its name, at the entrance of the bay of Ipetuba. The aforesaid river runs e. and enters the sea in the bay of Ipetuba. PARANAIBA, a large and abundant river of the province and captainship of Portoseguro in Brazil; it runs s. s. e. for many leagues, and enters by the n. side into the Grande del Paraná near its source. The ex-Jesuit Coleti asserts that it enters the Marañon by the n. part, below where it receives the Ginapape. On its shores dwell many nations of barbarous Indians, who are not known. PARANAIBA, another abundant river, in the province and government of Guayana. It is an arm of the Marañon, which runs out forming a curve, and returns to enter the same river, forming the large island of Ramos. PARANAMERIN, or PARAMERI, a small river of the province and captainship of Seara in Brazil, which runs n. and enters the sea between the rivers Paragú and Iquarazú. PARANAMÎRI, a river of the province and country of Las Amazonas. It is an arm of this which communicates with the lake Araraba, and forms the island of Variquiri. PARANAPANE, MINAS DE, some very rich and abundant gold mines of the province and captainship of San Vincente in Brazil. They lie between the rivers Yapo and Yaguariba, near where the Jesuits had the settlement of their missions, called San Francisco Xavier, in the province of Guayrá, and which was destroyed by the Portuguese of San Pablo. PARANAPE, a large and abundant river of the province and government of Paraguay, and which enters the Paraná. PARANAPITINGA. See YAGUAPIRI. PARANAPURAS, ENCARNACION DE, a settlement of the province and government of Mainas in the kingdom of Quito; a reduccion of the missions of this name by the Jesuits, on the shore of the river also so called. This river rises in the cordillera of the Andes, runs e. and, making a curve, enters the Guallaga, by the side of the settlement of Yurimanguas. PARANAUNA, a river of the province and captainship of Portoseguro in Brazil. It rises in the mountains near the coast, runs n. and enters the head of the Grande del Francisco. PARANAY, a small river of the province and government of Paraguay, which runs w. and enters the Paraná between those of Caruguampú and Piray. PARANGATECUTIRO, SAN JUAN DE, a settlement of the head settlement of the district of Uruapán, and alcaldía mayor of Valladolid, in the province and bishopric of Mechoacán. It contains 62 families of Indians, and is 10 leagues e. of its head settlement and 18 from the capital, and in it is a beautiful convent of the monks of San Agustin, PARANOS, a barbarous nation of Indians, who inhabit the woods of the province and government of Nainas, between the river Blanco to the s. and the Curaray to the n. and bounded w. by the nation of the Iquitos. PARAPAMENA, a large and abundant river of the province and captainship of San Pablo in Brazil. It rises w. of the capital, and running w. n. w. enters the Paraná. Don Juan de la Cruz wrongly calls it Paranapane. PARAPITI, a river of the province and government of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Peru. It rises in a large lake in the territory of the Pampas de Huanacos, and shortly after loses itself in another lake, where the river Ubay heads. Some call it the Apure; on its shores are seen the ruins of the antient capital of the province which was destroyed by the infidel Indians. PARAPITINGA, a lake of the province and captainship of Portoseguro in Brazil. It is formed from a waste water of the river Paracatus, to the e. of the town of Minas Generales. PARAPU, a small river of the province and government of Guayana or Nueva Andalucia, which rises n. of the lake in which the river Macaoza heads, runs e. and enters the Marañon. PARAPURA, a settlement of the province and government of Venezuela in the Nuevo Reyno de Granada; situate on the shore of the river Guarico, and s. s. e. of the lake Tacarigua. PARAQUARO, a settlement of the head settlement of the district and alcaldía mayor of Tanzitaro in Nueva España. It is of an hot temperature, situate in a beautiful and spacious valley; abounding in salubrious waters, and affords fine crops of rice, with which the various provinces of the kingdom are supplied, and in the traffic of which this place is always filled with traders, 11 leagues s. of the capital. PARAQUARO, another settlement, with the dedicatory title of San Agustin, in the province of Cinagua of the same kingdom. It is of an hot temperature, contains 27, families of Indians, and is annexed to the curacy of Turicato; abounds in maize, fruit, and larger cattle. But it is subject to the epidemic disorder of garrapatas (ticks), which the Indians call turicotas, and which are extremely noxious; 37 leagues s. e. of its capital. PARARCA, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Parinacochas in Peru. PARARE, a river of the province and government of San Juan de Los Llanos in the Nuevo Reyno de Granada. It runs nearly due e. and enters the Cazanare close to the settlement of the reduccion of San Salvadar. PARARIN, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Guailas in Peru. PARARUMA, a very lofty rock of a pyramidical form on the shore of the river Orinoco, the base of it being more than half a league in circumference; it is all of one piece, and can only be ascended on two sides with great difficulty. The top, which at a distance appears like a spear, is a plain of an oval figure, surrounded by a border or breast-work of the same stone; but the soil is very fertile. The Indians of the Saliva nation have here a beautiful garden, always irrigated by an hidden stream of water which flows in the same rock. Here are plantains, pines, and various fruits in abundance; but the greatest attraction of this spot is a certain bower, whither the Indians come to shelter themselves from the heat, and occasionally to amuse themselves, observing, from that eminence, the vessels passing along the river, and which are discernible at an immense distance. PARAS, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Vilcas Huaman in Peru; annexed to the curacy of Totos, celebrated for the first quicksilver mine, having been discovered there by Pedro Contreras, native of San Lucar de Barrameda in 1560, in company with Enrique Garcés, a Portuguese, the viceroy of Peru at the time being Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, Marquis of Cañete; but this mine was abandoned after three years, the profit not equalling the expences. PARASIS, a nation of barbarous Indians, who inhabit the n. w. shore of the river Paraguay, and the w. of the lake of Los Xarayes; bounded on this part by the Moxos, ands. by some tribes of the Chiquitos. PARATAPA, a small river of the province and government of Guayana or Nueva Andalucia, which runs e. in a serpentine course, and enters the Arui by this rhumb. PARATARI, a small river of the province and country of Las Amazonas, in the territory possessed by the Portuguese. An arm of this river returning into its native bed, forms a small island. PARATECA, a village and settlement of the Portuguese, of the province and captainship of Todos Santos in Brazil; situate on the w. shore of the Grande de San Francisco, and at the mouth where this enters the Rans. [PARATEE, a bay on the s. w. side of the island of Jamaica. It is s. e. of Banister bay; its s. e. point is also called Paratee.] PARATI, or ANGRA DE LOS REYES, a small town of the province and captainship of Rio Janeyro in Brazil; situate near the coast, and opposite the Isla Grande. PARATINGA, a large river of the kingdom of Brazil, which rises in lat. 8°, runs many leagues to s. s. w. and enters the Tocantines, opposite the Real of La Asuncion. PARATININGA. See XINGU. PARATINI, a river of the province and captainship of Rey in Brazil, which runs s. and turning e. enters the grand lake of Los Patos. PARATIPANĂ, a small river of the province and captainship of Pará in Brazil, which runs n. n. w. and enters the Xingú. PARAVARI, a large river of Peru, which rises in the province and corregimiento of Carabaya, afterwards unites itself with the Beni, and thus forms the Castela. On its shores are many Indian nations, of whom nothing is known. PARAVINANAS. See PARIME. PARAUPASA, a river of the kingdom of Brazil, which rises in the mountains of the Caria+ putangas Indians, runs e. and enters the Piloens near the town of Boa. PARAUTE, a settlement of the province and government of Maracaibo in the Nuevo Reyno de Granada; situate on the e. shore of the lake of Marcaibo, and of the river of its name. This river, which is small, rises in the country of Giraharas Indians, runs w. and enters the lake. [PARAYBA. See PARAIBA.] PARAZU, a small river of the province and captainship of Seara in Brazil, which runs n. and enters the sea between the Iguarazú and the Paranámerin. PARCELA, BAXO DE, a shoal on the coast of the province and captainship of Rio Janeyro in Brazil, close to cape Santo Tomé. PARCO, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Chilques and Masques in Peru; annexed to the curacy of Acchaamansaya. PARCOS, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Angaraez, in the same kingdom as the former; 16 leagues from Guamanga, and 13 from Guancavelica. PARCU, an ancient and small province of Peru, belonging at present to Cuzco. It was conquered and united to the empire by the Inca Viracocha, eighth emperor, PARDO, a river of the province and government of Paraguay, which runs s. and enters the great river of the Portuguese. It is also called Añemby. PARDO, another, a small river in the territory of Cuyaba of the kingdom of Brazil, which runs s. s. w. and enters the Paraná. PARDO, another, called also Colorado, which runs nearly s. and turning n. n. w. enters the Paraná by the s. side in a very large stream. PARDORA, a settlement of the province and captainship of Pernambuco in Brazil; situate w. of the city of San Augustin, near the coast. [PARDUBA, a bay on the coast of Brazil, 10 leagues w. n. w. of Brandihi bay.] PARE, a settlement of the corregimiento of the jurisdiction of Velez in the Nuevo Reyno de Granada, of a hot but healthy temperature; and having a soil abounding in wheat and maize, of which it gathers two crops annually, in yucas, plantains, and sugar canes, which are worked in a great number of sugar engines which it has, and which render it a settlement of as considerable commerce as any in that kingdom. It contains 600 housekeepers, and is seven leagues from the city of Velez. PARE, a small river of the province and government of Guayana or Nueva Andalucia, which rises n. of the settlement of San Joseph de Mapoyes, runs e. and then turning s. enters the Manapiari. PAREDONES, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Maule in the kingdom of Chile, annexed to the curacy of Vichuquen. PAREDONES, another settlement, in the island of Cuba; on the n. coast, opposite the isle of Guinchos. PAREDONES, Some shoals or rocks, near the coast of the province and government of Cartagena and Nuevo Reyno de Granada. [PAREN, a lake of Chile, S. America.] [PARHAM, town and harbour, on the n. side of the island of Antigua, in the W. Indies. The harbour is defended by Byram fort, at Barnacle point, on the w. side, and farther up by another fort on the e. side. The town is regularly built, and lies at the head of the harbour, and in St. Peter's parish.] PARHAM, a city of the island of Antigua, one of the Antilles; on the n. coast, with a good port. PARI, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Canta in Peru. PARI, an abundant river of the above province and kingdom, which rises in the lake Chinchaicocha of the province of Tarma, laves the pro vinces of Canta, Xauja, and Huanta, runs s. till it reaches the province of Guarochiri, where it forms an elbow, and turning e. after collecting the waters of various other rivers, enters the Marañon, with which some have wrongly identified it. PARI, another, a small river of the province and government of Guayana or Nueva Andalucia, one of those which enters the Orinoco by the e. side. PARIA, a province and corregimiento of the kingdom of Peru, in the archbishopric of Charcas; bounded n. by the provinces of Pacages, n. e. by the jurisdiction of the town of Oruro, e. and s. e. by that of Porco, s. w. by that of Lipes, and w. by that of Carangas. It is of a cold temperature, and the vegetable productions are those peculiar to the sierra; such as papas, bark, barley, &c. It has large breeds of smaller cattle, some also of larger, and of llamas, vicuñas, and huanacos. Here are salt mines, and a lake from which much is extracted; also various streams of warm water. The corregidors of Oruro being alcaldes mayores of the mines of the district of Veinte Leguas and Paria, the capital of this province, and the settlement of Sepulturas, being included in the same limits; they appropriated to themselves, some years since, some silver mines of the cordillera of Condocondo, and some gold mines, of which many have filled with water, and others are not worked from the great expence. In this province runs a large river from the province of Pacages, which is called the Desaguadero, taking its source in the great lake Titicaca or Chucuito; and which being passed in various parts in rafts made of tortora or reed, runs s. e. and forms a lake of three to four leagues long and two wide, in which breeds a fish, called by some suches, and by others bagres. This river, as being very abundant, and the lake continuing always at one height, it caused a suspicion that its waters had a subterraneous vent; and in fact it is found to have a whirlpool, over which some old rafts being permitted to float, where, after giving two or three turns, sucked down. The water is thought to find itself a passage into the sea under the cordillera, and through the shore, close to the port of Iqueique. In 1748 its waters increased to an immense height, and it was concluded that some raft had blocked up its subterraneous passage; a circumstance most likely, since, after a time, they subsided to their ordinary state. One part of this province is inundated in the rainy seasons for many leagues. The inhabitants, who amount to 10,000, make cheeses of sheep's milk, much esteemed in other provinces for their delicacy. Its corregidor used to have a repartimiento of 50,200 dollars, and paid an alcavala of 401 dollars yearly: the capital is the town of the same name. [The natives of this province, as well as those of Guayana and Debaiba, were originally very zealous in their worship of the devil and idols, to whom they sacrificed men, and then eat them; when their gods were angry, they punished themselves with fasting. Their priests were stoned or burned, if they married against their vow of chastity. They believed in rewards and punishments after this life. The spot in the moon they held to be a man imprisoned there for incest with his sister. They fed yearly the departed souls with maize and wine. They held the souls of great men only, and such as were buried with them, immortal. Their great men's funeral pomps were celebrated yearly with much lamentations, drinking, and bestial ceremonies, both men and women casting aside all modesty. These subjects are further treated off by the authors, P. Martyr, Gomara, Linschoten, Cieza, &c.] PARIA, the lake of which we have above spoken, which receives the waters of the river by a channel of 80 fathoms. These waters are of very bad quality, but abound in excellent fish, and are thought, with great reason, to have a subterrane ous vent. PARIA, a province. See ANDALUCIA. PARIA, a gulf, between the coast of the province of Cúmana to the s. s. w. and w. n. w. and the island Trinidad to the n. e. and s. e. terminating by the n. at the cape of Las Salinas and that of San Joseph, and by the e. at the cape or point of Blanquizales; its entrance at the former part being by the mouth of the Drago or Dragon, at the latter by the point of Galera. Its extent from e. to w. is 88 miles, and from n. to s. 50, and off the coast of the island of Trinidad is very good anchorage. [This gulf is called by the Spaniards Triste (Sad), but as the whole of the coast of Tiera Firme which surrounds the gulf goes by the name of Paria, the English and the French geographers have given that name to the gulf itself. What these two latter nations mean by the gulf Sad, is a gulf which lies between cape Coderas and point Hicacos. From the two lands to the n. of this gulf, jut out two points, between which are three islands, which are nearly e. and w. of each other, and consequently close the gulf to the n. excepting four channels left between the islands called Dra gon's mouths. The largest of these channels, being 6 miles broad, is that to the w. between the point Pena of Cumana, and the island named Chacachacares. There are several rocks above water in the channel lying close to the point, and one hidden rock two cables length from the island. Between this island and the next, which is called Navios, there is a second channel named Ship Channel (des vaisseaux,) which, as it runs from n. to n. e. is very good for vessels entering the gulf, but very bad for going out. The third channel is formed by the preceding island, and that which lies next to the e. named Monos; it is called de Huevos, or Channel of Eggs. It runs from n. n. e. to s. s. e.; it is, like the preceding, better for entering than leaving the gulf. The fourth channel is formed by the preceding island Monas, and the w. n. w. point of Trinidad, and is called Apes Mouth. It is narrow and dangerous, on account of a rock in the middle of the passage. The small vessels that enter by this passage always pass between the rock and Tri nidad. This gulf forms one of the finest ports in the world; its size and extent has been already mentioned; it has in every part good anchorage, the bottom being mud, except by Camana, where there are some sands and banks, and the water is shallow. On the s. some of the mouths of the Orinoco fall into the gulf in many branches, and with great velocity. It is probable that the Orinoco originally may have separated the island of Trinidad from the main land, and have also produced the four channels which are above described. The current is certainly always running out, and for which reason, it is impossible for ships to enter if the winds are not favourable and sufficiently strong. On the coast of Paria there are several ports and roadsteads, which render the communication with Trinidad very easy.] PARIA, a point of the coast of the former gulf, which runs into the sea for many leagues, opposite the island of Trinadad, and which is called also de Megillones in lat. 9° 12′ n., long. 62° 1' w. PARIACACA, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Huarochiri in Peru. PARIACOTO, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Guailas in Peru; annexed to the curacy of Llaután in the province of Santa. PARIAGUAN, a settlement of the province of Barcelona and government of Cumaaná, at the foot of the sierra of Paraigua, on the shore of the river Ipire. VOL. IV. PARIAHUANCA, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Xauja in Peru, annexed to the curacy of Cochangara. PARIAMARCA, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Canta in Peru, annexed to the curacy of its capital. PARIANCHARCA, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Tama in Peru. PARIARCA, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Guamalies in Peru. PARICATUBA, a lake of the province and country of Las Amazonas, in the Portuguese possession, opposite the strait of Pauxis. PARIDA, CAYO DE LA, a rocky isle or shoal near the coast of Florida, at the extremity of the same between El Gran Martin and the Cayo Vizcaino. [PARILLO, a town of Peru, generally called Santa; which see.] PARIME, an immense lake of the province of Dorado, being the deposit of the waters of infinite rivers, some of which are very large, which enter by a very wide arm of the river Branco and others. Some modern authors would have it, that this lake is merely fabulous and imaginary; but, according to the late advices, it is said to be real and existing. Its extent is not known, but it varies according to its different parts: it is of a square figure, and the greater part of the travellers allow it to be 82 leagues long from e. to w. so as to resemble a little sea, its waters even being salt. From the mountains to the w. of it, flow down many rivers, all of which run into it, and on the n. side it has a channel by which it runs out into the river Parabá. In the midst of it are many islands, and in the mountains dwell many nations of infidel Indians, supposed to be in possession of that beautiful country the Dorado, but which, from the solicitude it has caused, has been fatal to so many. On the n. n. e. the river Cuyuni rises from this lake, and laves the territory of the Dutch colonies, and afterwards unites itself with the Esequibo; on the s. rises the Paraná-pitinga or Yaguapira, which means white water, the which enters the Marañan by three mouths by the n. part, and was discovered in 1745. Another river, also of the same name as the lake, issues from it. [It is now discovered beyond all question, and according to the latest maps and manuscript drawings of that country, that this lake is nothing but an overflow of the head branches of the Branco, in the valley of Parimo.] I |