(in full, Santa Maria de Belem do Gram Para), 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. Para has also a college, several schools and hospitals, a botanic garden, a theatre, and a court of law. The anchorage of the city of Para is capacious and perfectly safe, being rarely exposed to strong winds, except momentary squalls, and varying in depth from 7 to 34 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 Para. 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, 387,809 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 lbs.; to other countries, 103,255 lbs. 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:

| Year | Vessels entered | Imports | Vessels cleared | Exports | |------|----------------|---------|----------------|---------| | | No. | Tonnage | No. | Tonnage | | 1851 | 81 | 14,194 | 82 | 14,825 | | 1852 | 88 | 15,457 | 85 | 14,693 | | 1853 | 113 | 18,370 | 111 | 18,131 | | 1854 | 114 | 19,777 | 111 | 19,157 | | 1855 | 100 | 18,765 | 104 | 19,909 | | 1856 | 92 | 18,782 | 90 | 15,479 |

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.

Pará, a maritime province of Brazil, of which the above town is the capital. It lies between Lat. 9° S. and 4° 30' N., Long. 45° and 64° W.; and is bounded on the N. by the three Guianas and the Atlantic, E. by the provinces of Maranhao and Goiás, S. by that of Matto-Grosso, and W. by that of Alto-Amazonas; area, 1,155,253 square miles. On the northern frontier it is separated from Guiana by a range of mountains, and from these the ground gradually slopes downwards to the bed of the Amazon, which traverses the country nearly due E. On the other side of this river the surface again rises as it approaches the watershed between the Amazon and the Rio de la Plata; but there are no very great heights in this direction. Except a few small streams, the Amazon is the only river in Pará that falls directly into the sea; but it receives many large tributaries in this province, among which are the Madeira, forming part of the western boundary, the Tapajos, the Chingua, and the Tocantines, which joins the Pará or southern arm of the Amazon. The mineral wealth of the province is considerable, though hitherto it has been entirely neglected. Gold, iron, quicksilver, and copper among the metals, as well as diamonds, salt, coal, &c., have been found in various parts of the province; and some of them in large quantities. The soil is fertile, and the surface of the country is covered in some parts with vast and rich plains, and in others with dense, luxuriant forests. Comparatively few tracts have been brought under culture, and in these rice, coffee, cotton, sugar-cane, &c., are raised. The principal exports and imports of the province have been already noticed in speaking of the town of Pará, through which all the trade is carried on. Pop. (1856) 207,400.

Pará, or "Father of Waters," a name originally applied to the Amazon, but now restricted to the southern arm of that river, which receives the Tocantines from the S. It has a length of about 200 miles, and a breadth at its mouth of 40. It is at this mouth of the Amazon that the influence of the tide is most conspicuous, producing at spring tides a huge wave 15 feet high.