A History of the Brazil Author:James Henderson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP. III. : i PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. Its Colonization—Contests with the French and Tamoyo Indians—Expulsion of the French—Foundation of St. Sebastian... more »—Boundaries—Division into Co- marcas—Mountains—Principal Rivers—Lakes—Says—Capes—Islands— Mineralogy—Zoology—Phytology—Cities and Towns—Boundaries, Towns, and Productions of the Comarcajs of Ilha Grande and Parahiba Nova- Boundaries of the Comarca of Rio de Janeiro—The Metropolis—Situation- English Bunal-Ground—Streets—Royal Mode of riding—Compulsory Homage upon the'Occasion—Churches—Convents—Gloria Hill—Female Convents— Visit to one—Fountains—Visit to the Aqueduct—Squares—Palace—PuMie Buildings—Pu blic Garden—Library—Manufactories— Theatre—Roads leading from the City—Palace of St. Christovao—Troops of Miners and others from the Interior—Caza de Don Pedro—Royal Mill, Shacara, and Stables— Fire-Works—Beija Mao—Fidalgos and higher Orders of Society—Splendour of Churc/ies—Royal Chapel—Religious Festivals and Observances—Funeral Processions—Catacombs—The Host—State of Society—Markets. Joam De Solis, who has been already mentioned, entered the bay of Rio de Janeiro, in the year 1515, on his second voyage to South America; and about four years afterwards Fernando de Magellan, and Ruy Falleiro, a famous Portuguese mathematician who accompanied him, also remained a short time in it, bestowing upon it the name of St. Luzia. Martina Affonso de Souza, who was engaged in an exploration of the whole coast, went into the bay on the 1st of January, 1532, and very improperly gave it the name, which it yet retains, of Rio de Janeiro, (River of January,) evincing, what would not be supposed to be possible, that he considered it a river. No attempts were made, however, to form any settlements here till the year 1555, when M. Villegagnon, ...« less