SERGIPE, a small Atlantic State, north-eastern Brazil (origi nally Sergipe d'el-Rey). Its area is 8,319 sq.m. Its population in 193o was 547,965, three-fourths of which were half-castes and ne groes. The Sao Francisco forms its northern boundary, and the drainage of the northern part of the State is northward and east ward to that river. The southern half of the State, however, slopes eastward and is drained directly into the Atlantic through a num ber of small rivers, the largest of which are the Irapiranga, the Real and the Cotinguiba. These are navigable for short dis tances, but are obstructed by sand-bars at their mouths. The sur face of the State resembles in part that of Bahia, with a zone of forested lands near the coast, and back of this a higher zone of rough open country, called agrestes. There is a sandy belt along the coast, and the western frontier is slightly mountainous. The in termediate lands are highly fertile, especially in the forested re gion, where the rainfall is abundant. Further inland the year is divided into wet and dry seasons with occasional prolonged droughts. These districts are pastoral. The lower fertile lands are cultivated for sugar, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, beans and being the principal product. Rubber and some
other natural products are exported. There is a railway which runs from Aracaja northward to Capella, and one running southward to Bahia. The only manufacturing industries of importance are cot ton-mills, sugar factories and distilleries, one of the largest sugar usines in Brazil being located at Riachuelo near Laranjeiras. The capital of the State is Aracajta (pop. on the lower course, or estuary, of the Cotinguiba river, near the coast. The bar at the entrance to this river is exceptionally dangerous, and the port is frequented only by coasting vessels of light draught. The town stands on a sandy plain, and there are sand dunes within the city limits. The public buildings are a large plain church with unfinished twin towers, the Government palace, the legislative halls, a normal school and public hospital. The other principal towns are Estancia (pop. 1920, 15,868) ; Laranjeiras (12,661) ; Capella (59,563) ; Lagarto (26,084) ; Sao Christovao, formerly Sergipe d'el-Rey (14,093), and Maroim (7,998).