river of West Africa, Senegambia, rises in the mountains of Fouta Jallon, near the sources of the Senegal and Gambia, and flows in an irregular course westwards to the Atlantic. It enters the sea by several branches, broad, rapid, and navigable, though somewhat obstructed by shoals. The most northerly of these branches Rio Grande is called the Jeja or Geha, a name sometimes applied to the whole river. The upper course of the Rio Grande has been very little explored. Its banks are well wooded, and studded with large ant-hills; and the neighbouring country is rich in many valuable productions.

**Rio Grande do Norte**, a province of Brazil, is bounded on the S. by Paraíba, on the N. and E. by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the W. by Ceará. Situated between the parallels of 4° 30' and 6° 45' of S. Lat., the climate is of course very hot. At Cape St Roque, which forms the angle of this province, in Long. 36° 15' W., Lat. 5° 7' S., the coast of Brazil terminates towards the N.E.; and the Atlantic Ocean, which has so long been its boundary on the E., begins to wash its northern shores. The province has about 100 miles of sea-coast, and an area of 31,230 square miles. The Rio Grande, or Potengi, the great river of the province, rises in a ridge on its western limits, and traverses its whole extent in a direction from S.W. to N.E. The province is irrigated by other streams, on whose banks the most fertile land is to be found; but the soil in general is rather sterile. None of the rivers are of any great size. There are several salt lakes, which afford much excellent salt. It is mountainous in the S. and W., but gradually slopes toward the sea; and along the coast there is an expanse of low sandy ground. Cotton is the crop that grows best in this country; but maize, mandioc, rice, and the sugar-cane are also raised. The minerals include gold, silver, iron, limestone, sandstone, granite, &c.; but mining is only carried on to a very small extent. There are numerous small harbours along the coast; but navigation is interrupted by many shoals, some of them very dangerous, which line the shore. The small island of Fernando de Noronha, about 250 miles E.N.E. of Cape St Roque, belongs to this province, and is used as a place of transportation. Salt, cotton, sugar, hides, salt fish, &c., are exported from Rio Grande do Norte. The capital, Natal, is the seat of the provincial assembly of twenty members. The province sends one senator and two deputies to the legislative assembly of Brazil. Pop. (1856) 190,000.

**Rio Grande do Sul**, or S. Pedro do Rio Grande, the most southerly province of Brazil, bounded on the N. by the provinces of Curitiba and S. Catherina, E. by the Atlantic, S. by Uruguay, and W. by La Plata, lying between S. Lat. 25° 30' and 32° 30', W. Long. 49° 40' and 58° 20'. It is upwards of 500 miles in length by 400 in breadth, and has an area of 118,758 square miles. This extensive country consists chiefly of large plains covered with immense herds of cattle and other animals. Some mountain ridges traverse it in various directions, but none of them is of any great height. Here several large rivers have their origin, of which the Uruguay, the Jacuhy, and the Camapuan, are the most important. Its great extent of level and alluvial coast exhibits some lakes of vast dimensions. The Lagoa dos Patos is the largest lake in Brazil, being 140 miles in length from N.E. to S.W., and about 40 miles in breadth. This lake is the recipient of almost all the streams which irrigate the northern and eastern portions of the country. It is very shallow, and its water continues fresh as far as the Island dos Marinheiros, near the port of S. Pedro. The peninsula lying between the lake and the ocean is low and level, and its eastern side lies almost in a direct line, but the opposite side forms various points and bays. The western shore of the lake is bold but not rugged, and is cut by several rivers, of which the Camapuan and Jacuhy, already mentioned, are most deserving of notice. The sources of the former are in a chain of low hills called the great Cochilha, which traverses the western limits of the country. It flows with a rapid and disturbed current, interrupted by continued cataracts for nearly 100 miles, and falls into the lake about the middle of its western side. The Jacuhy is a river of still greater value. It rises in the north of the province, and after traversing the southern declivity of the general ridge for several miles, it turns eastward, describing innumerable windings for a course of about 80 miles, during which it collects the water of a number of smaller rivers, many of them navigable. It then suddenly bends towards the S., and after running 15 miles in this direction, enters the lake not far below its northern extremity. To the S.W. of the Lagoa dos Patos lies another sheet of water, called Lake Mirim. It is 90 miles in length by about 20 in breadth, and discharges itself into the Lagoa dos Patos by means of a channel called the river of St Gonzales. Lake Mirim is very shallow, and in the rainy season it widely extends its borders. The Gonzales is 50 miles in length: it is wide and handsome, and navigable for small vessels, which by this channel pass into Lake Mirim, and thence by means of rivers penetrate into the fertile interior, and distribute their cargoes to the large towns on the coast. There are other large lakes running parallel with the shore, but these are the most important.

The climate of the province is mild and healthy; the greater part of the soil is fertile, and produces various kinds of grain, and many of the fruits of Europe. Timber is not very abundant, but of very good quality. Among the minerals are gold, silver, iron, sulphur, and porcelain clay. The rearing of cattle, however, is what chiefly distinguishes the country, and gives employment to its inhabitants. They are either slaughtered to form the salt beef for the export of which the province is celebrated, or sent in droves to Sao Paulo and Rio Janeiro. Horses and mules are bred to a great extent, and are highly valued for the excellence of the breed. The provincial assembly of Rio Grande do Sul consists of twenty-eight members; and the province sends to the Brazilian legislature three senators and six deputies. Pop. (1856) 201,300.

The capital, Rio Grande do Sul, or S. Pedro do Sul, formerly stood a few miles from where it now stands, in the situation called Estreito, near the head of a bay or harbour, at the entrance of the Lagoa dos Patos; but the encroachment of the sands has made such progress as almost to have overwhelmed the town, and occasioned its removal to the present site. It is now situated on a level plain a little above high-water mark; but, like its predecessor, it suffers much from the accumulation of sand. Its public buildings comprise a plain but handsome cathedral, several other edifices, and a fort. Its commercial importance appears to be considerable. Large quantities of wheat, hides, tallow, dried beef, cheese, and other articles are shipped from this port, and commerce is rapidly increasing. Pop. of the town, 3560; of the district, 12,000.