a province of Brazil, lying between S. Lat. 7° and 11°, W. Long. 34° 50' and 43°, is bounded on the N. by the provinces of Ceara and Paraibla, N.W. and W. by that of Piauiy, S. by those of Bahia and Alagoas, and E. by the Atlantic; area, 61,683 square miles. It consists of two distinct regions, one lying near the coast, and the other on the table-land of the interior. The coast, which is fringed with coral reefs, is low and uninteresting, and the adjacent country level; but farther from the sea there is a succession of hills and dales, and still farther to the W. the ground becomes stony and sterile, as it rises into the table-land which is known by the name of the Serrao de Pernambuco. This region forms a part of the table-land of Brazil, and consists in a great part of salt steppes, though in some parts there are excellent pasture-lands and fields of cotton. The principal mountains in the province are those of Borborema, which form its northern and western boundary; and the most important river of the province, or of any other in Brazil belonging wholly to the country, is the San Francisco, the largest stream that falls into the Atlantic between the Amazon and the Plata. It only forms part of the southern boundary of Pernambuco; and the affluents it receives here are so few and insignificant that the country is in general very dry and sterile. Some gold is found here, and excellent marble might be quarried. The forests yield abundant supplies of timber of various kinds suitable for ship-building, for carpentry, and for ornament. Dye-woods are also obtained. The climate of Pernambuco is hot and moist in the interior, but more agreeable in the maritime district. The soil of the latter is in many parts rich and fertile, producing cotton, sugar, cocoa, maize, mandioc, and a variety of fruits, medicinal herbs, and vegetables. Manufactures can hardly be said to exist in Pernambuco; but there are sugar-works and distilleries. The trade of the province is considerable, and is chiefly carried on through the port of Pernambuco. The province appoints six senators and thirteen deputies to the legislature. Pop. (1856) 950,000.

the capital and principal seaport in the above province, stands on the Atlantic, at the mouth of the Capibaribe, 210 miles N.E. of Bahia; S. Lat. 8° 5', W. Long. 34° 52'. It consists of the towns of Pernambuco proper, or Recife, and Olinda, which are about 3 miles distant from each other. (See OLINDA.) The former stands upon a flat, and is divided into three parts, occupying respectively a peninsula, an island, and the continent. Recife, or Pernambuco properly so called, is built upon a peninsula which extends to the southward of Olinda. This is the most mercantile part of the threefold city. S. Antonio stands upon an island or sand-bank formed by the arms of the Capibaribe, being connected with Recife by a long bridge almost entirely constructed of stone. The third division of the city is situated on the mainland, to the westward of the other two, and is joined to them by a wooden bridge, considered as the largest in Brazil. This portion of Pernambuco is called Boa Vista, where the richer inhabitants reside. The appearance of the country, when Pernambuco is approached by sea, is described as charming. The hills are clothed with wood, gradually rising towards the interior; but none of them is of any considerable height. Recife contains regular though narrow streets, and houses of brick; three or more storeys in height. Besides several churches, there stand here the custom-house and the residence of the port-admiral; but the most of the provincial authorities reside in S. Antonio, where the streets are broad, and the houses large, the ground floors being generally occupied with shops. Among the public buildings there are the treasury, town-hall, prison, barracks, governor's palace, &c. There are several public squares, and the general appearance of this quarter is very lively. The principal street of Boa Vista is broad and handsome, and there are here many elegant buildings. A long embankment connects the sand-bank and town of S. Antonio with the mainland at Affogados, to the south and west of Boa Vista. The position of Pernambuco, on the most easterly point of South America, renders its harbour one of much importance; and the nature of the harbour is no less favourable for commercial purposes. It is formed by a singular reef, probably of coraline structure, which extends for 1500 miles along the Brazilian coast, from the province of Bahia to that of Maranhao. This remarkable reef at the top is scarcely sixteen feet in breadth. To a great depth on the outside it slopes off more rapidly than the Plymouth breakwater, but it is perpendicular within; thus forming a magnificent natural bulwark or breakwater, within which the ocean is as still as a mill-pond. In some parts it sinks under water, and there are numberless breaks, by which a communication with the sea is laid open. The harbour, which is well protected from the sea by the reef, has two deep and safe entrances; but there is a bar of sand within it, which, even at spring tides, does not admit vessels drawing more than 15 feet. This might, however, be removed by dredging. The anchorage is about half a mile in length, and of breadth sufficient to admit four rows of vessels. The harbour is defended by forts; and there is a lighthouse 80 feet high, visible to a distance of 16 or 17 miles. The commerce of Pernambuco is very important; the exports consisting chiefly of cotton, sugar, rum, hides, and dye-woods; and the imports, of cotton and linen cloth, hardware, cutlery, silks, wine, flour, cod, &c. The trade has been on the increase for some years. Pernambuco was much improved by the Dutch, who were in possession of it from 1630 to 1654. The population of the town is 12,000; of the district, 38,000.