The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-12-08
Sac LouiZ de Maranhao,

FER OLD SEAPORT TOWN, ONCE OF
# EEAT IMPORTANCE, BUT NOW IN ITS
AVS OF THE sERE AND YELLOW. GOOD
;YE TO BRAZIL.
.o.ial Correspondence of The Journal.
ARANHAo, Brazil, Oct. II, 1892. Look
on the map of Brazil, you will observe
At we have returned southwark, by sea,
me distance below Para. 1t happened
Mt the steamer we took on our upward
AZ did not call at this port; and having
"a out to do the country thoroughly,
ielt that to omit so important a place
Maranhao, and proceed to pastures new
rbout having seen it, would be like a
ppped stitch in a piece of knitting
,Iy picked up at the time, but if left,
reparable injury to the completed
slk SO we have retraced our steps
ar hundred miles below the mouth of
Amazon and will presently double
on the same course en- route to
n nezuela.
" the way, am not sure whether you
lind the name | have given ON the
"d' which you consult. Ii will depend
I a'n the map, as the place reioices under
liety of titles. Some authorities put
own as Sac Louiz; others Maranhao,
.trs Marauleim; others Maranham: and
crS hitch the several cognomens to-
La.
french colonists who first settled the town
l6l2) chrstcned it in compliment to
patron saints and the royal family of
.anee. st. Louis, and its bay Saint Mary.
It. Dutch, who gained possession a few
ms later and held it until 1868. dubbed
Naranheim. Lord Cochrane, who cap
ued it in 1873, and got himself made
Hlquis of the same called it Maranham.
hi to this day the Englishmen who come
Dies, call it atter Lord Cochrane' S fashion,
Hey have spoiled the musical name of
Rio de la Plata, (''River of Silver)' 10y
ming it into the River Plate: while all
lie Portuguese and Brazilians, who com
rise the bulk of the population and Ger
AMY ought to be the best authority on
!ngS pertaining to their own country.
a>ist on Maranhao. Therefore. you can
ke your choice in the matter: but if YOU
sely conclude to stick to the name. re-
mber it is pronounced as if spelled
Nah-ran- yown. accenting the final sylla-
at any rate il is not a place to be ignor-
., being capital of the big, big province
1.-THE same name, Brazil S fourth city in size
.ud once second to none in commercial i'm
rtance, and said to be the very best
built town in the Republic. 1t is not on
c main land. but like New York CITY.
tupies an island in the Atlantic. TWEEN
-}-eight miles long by fifteen broad. sepa-
ted from the rest Of Brazil 10y the twin
aps Of san Marks and sac Jose, encilrled
the small streams of sac Francisco ANA
Nmanhao. which rise and fall with the
'ic. At the mouth of these rivers is
sin, accessible only al high tide and
eu by vessels drawing not more than
Penty eet-thc hay nt Saint Nam. which
..on discovered in 300. ana whose dis
very was followed by the surrounding
lion being made a Spanish ''Captaincy'
nlng the next quarter century. Once
-iI., I'm, 81,
Iled at It's entrance by series of forts.
tlth tall white light house IN an island
ID the larger island III ALaranliao. and
elected from the prevailing eaStellv
winds hy range of low mountains. which
nm sort of natural fortress. crossed
TWO or three marrow passes known only
The Indians. But when the tide is ont.
Aarbor is more than half dry. leaving
edmers that have anchored in front of
.e town stranded amid great bare sand
unks.
Then the Traveller WHO has not been wise
aough in his day and generation to 20
shore, has ample time while waiting for
ne water rise and the simultaneous re-
.rn Of his cowi0{pots TN coyauo To note
low beautiful is the bay beyond. dotted
'}th little islands of greeneSt green:
Jrange fisher craft, lying along the Droi-
s.. and picturesque montalias. manned
Ich by from six to dozen Indians, who
odd their spade shaped paddles perpen-
drularly in the water and. striking all at
WnceiVable rapiaity: tall cocoanut and
'read-frult trees fringe the citys profile
With scarlet-tlowered pomegranite bushes
.iuStered at their feet; long lines of tow
ring palms beyond. nodding their plum
y heads in hospitable greeting, and
-roves OF oranges. and bananas stretching
way inland: while fronting all tar as
he eve can reach are the curious man
,roVe trees. which stand waist deep ut
igh tide along the whole watel-side of
lorth Brazil. only their upper branches
ICING visible, scantily clothed with sea
7leen foliage and few white blossoms
When the tide is out they show the sin
7ular spectacle of oysters growing on
rees, for young bivalves attach them
selves in great numbers upon the trunks
md lower limbs when submerged. The
(Which, you know. contains
HE principle of tannin i'll greater abund-