PARA

PARA (in full, Santa Maria de Belem do Gram Pará), a town of Brazil, capital of a province of the same name, stands on the right shore of the estuary of Pará, or south arm of the Amazon, which is here 7 miles wide, about 70 miles from the Atlantic. The streets are straight and well paved, crossing one another at right angles; and the houses are well and substantially, some even elegantly, built of stone. They are not generally high, few having more than two stories, and many of them only one. There is a large and handsome cathedral, and several fine churches. The Jesuits' seminary, now partially used as an episcopal palace, and the governor's palace, are among the finest buildings in the town. There are two convents, and the buildings of a third are now used as barracks. Pará has also a college, several schools and hospitals, a botanic garden, a theatre, and a court of law. The anchorage of the city of Pará is capacious and perfectly safe, being rarely exposed to strong winds, except momentary squalls, and varying in depth from 7 to 3½ fathoms, or less. With the exception of two large shoals at the entrance of the river, the approach is practically unobstructed, there being abundant breadth of channel, varying from 7 to 11 fathoms in depth. The entrance-channel at the mouth of the river is deep and clear for a W.S.W. course, and there is little or no difficulty in entering by daylight; but for sailing-vessels of large draught the outlet (which is through another channel) is not quite so safe, as it is narrow and much shallower, and as the wind sets directly into it. A redoubt in front of the palace overlooks the anchorage, and a small fort 4 miles below the town commands the approach. The commerce of the port is very considerable; it was formerly the source whence most of the countries in the world were supplied with India-rubber; and though the discovery of that article in the East Indies, Africa, and in other parts, has somewhat diminished the quantity exported, yet it still constitutes one of the chief staples of the trade of Pará. The quantities exported in 1856 were,—to Great Britain, 1,984,940 lb.; to the United States, 2,444,580 lb.; and to other countries, 357,309 lb. The export of cocoa, however, is at present greater than that of India-rubber. It is chiefly sent to France, where a great demand was created for it during

the recent war. The quantities of this article exported in 1856 were,—to France, 5,260,155 lb.; to other countries, 103,255 lb. There are also exported large quantities of Brazil nuts, rice, sugar, cotton, dye-woods, &c. The most important articles of importation are hardware, calico, and soap, all of which are chiefly obtained from the United States. The following table exhibits the shipping entered and cleared, as well as the total value of the imports and exports since 1851:—

The climate of Pará, though hot and liable to thunderstorms, is very healthy for Europeans. Pop. estimated at 28,000, of whom about 4000 are slaves.