or Brazil, a large maritime country of South America, lying between 35° and 60° W. lon. and between the equator and 35° S. lat.

It is bounded by the Atlantic ocean and the river Amazon on the north, by the same ocean on the east, by the river of Plate on the south, and by Paraguay on the west; being computed to be 2500 miles in length, and 700 miles in breadth. The Portuguese have now the sole dominion of this extensive country, where, besides sugar and tobacco, there are rich mines of gold and diamonds; from whence his Portuguese majesty draws a very considerable revenue.

Brasil wood, or Brazil-wood, an American wood of a red colour, and very heavy. It is denominated variously, according to the places from whence it is brought: Thus we have brasil from Fernambuco, Japan, Lamon, &c.

The brasil-tree ordinarily grows in dry barren places, and even in the cliffs of rocks: It is very thick and large, usually crooked and knotty: Its flowers, which are of a beautiful red, exhale a very agreeable smell.

Though the tree be very thick, it is covered with so grofs a bark, that when the savages have taken it off, the wood or trunk, which was before the thickness of a man, is scarce left equal to that of his leg.

This wood must be chosen in thick pieces, close, found, without any bark on it, and such as, upon splitting, of pale becomes reddish, and, when chewed, has a saccharine taste. It is much used in turned work, and takes a good polish: But its chief use is in dying, where it serves for a red colour: It is a spurious colour, however, that it gives, and easily evaporates and fades; nor is the wood to be used without alum and tartar. From the Brasil of Fernambuco, is drawn a kind of carmine, by means of acids: There is also a liquid lacca made of it, for miniature.