CATHARINE'S, Si',• an island on the coast of Bra zil, situated in Long. 37' west, and between 27° 19' and 27° 49' of south latitude. It is about six miles broad in its narrowest part, and is separated from the continent by a channel about 400 yards wide. The surface of this island is diversified with mountains, plains, and swamps. The mountains of the interior, and the conical rocks which rise abruptly from the sea, are of primitive gra nite. Close to the fort, on the left hand of the entrance to the harbour, is a vein of grunstein in different states of decomposition, which ultimately changes into clay of a quality superior to that which is found in the valleys. The island is covered with trees that are perpetually green, but from their being intermixed with briars and thorns, the forests are impassable, and arc said to be infested with noxious serpents. The houses are erected on the margin of the sea; and the surrounding woods, abound ing in orange trees and aromatic plants, yield a most de lightful fragrance.
The soil in the interior of the island, though rather humid, is surprisingly fertile ; it consists chiefly of a rich vegetable decomposition, and yields almost spontaneous ly all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and grain. The culti vated lands are under considerable improvement. They were formerly covered with large trees ; but as great quantities have of late years been cut down for the pur poses of ship-building, good timber is now scarce. Flax, from which the fishermen make their lines, nets, and cordage, grows here of a good quality. The produce of St Catharine's consists in rice, maize, mandioca, coffee, oranges, lemons, citrons, cotton, sassafras, and guiacum. Sugar and indigo are raised in small quantities, and the potatoes are reckoned the finest in the world.
The climate is healthful and serene. The prevalent winds, which are from the south-west and north-cast, mo derate the solstitial heats. The former prevail from September to March, and the latter from April to Au gust. The genial nature of the climate is indicated by a profusion of the finest flowers. The rose and the jes samine arc in bloom all the year round. Nlyrtles arc ve ry common, and a beautiful variety of the passion flower as found in equal abundance. The principal animals are opossums, monkeys, and armadillos. The beautiful co ral snake occurs among the numerous tribe of st rpt las ; and the principal birds are, cranes, hawks, parrots, hum ming birds, and toucans. The sea produrcs a variety of excellent lish, and so well is the market supplied, that a quantity sufficient to (line 12 persons may be had 14 a shilling. A large ox «,st 8 piastres, (when La Perouse
visited the island,) a hog of 1501h. cost 4 piastres, and turkies were sold for a piastre the pair. In 1804 the price of meat was about I per pound, and poultry, eggs, and the lines( vegetables, were both abundant and cheap.
As the inhabitants require all the produce of the isl and for their own consumption, their trade is of course inconsiderable. Numerous coasting vessels hunt Bahia, Pernambuco, Etc. bound for the La Plata, twitch here ; and the island is amply supplied with artisans of all de scriptions.
From the landing place, which is at the bottom of a verdant slope of about 500 yards, the town has a very beautiful appearance, and its fine cathedral appears in the distance. The town consists of several streets. The boo., which Itat• two or three stories with boarded floors, are well built, and they are provided with neat gardens. The number of inhabitants is between five and six thousand. On entering the port of St Catharine's by the north, there are several islands. On one of them, to the westward of the entrance, is the fort of Santa Cruz, the most considerable in the island. Oil' this fort, there is a safe anchorage for a fleet of ships of war, and ships of 300 tons may enter the harbour. There arc several watering places on the island. The fort of Santa Cruz is only a large enclosed battery, and is incapable of mak ing a regular defence. The garrison in 1785 consisted of 50 men, ill paid and clothed. Here arc other four forts, Porto Greed, Ratones, Estreito, and Concepcao.
The island of St Catharine's is divided into 4 parishes, 1st, Nossa Senho•a de Dercito; 2d, St Antonio ; 3d, La guno ; and 4th, Ribcron. The divisions on the opposite part of the coast, called, 1st, St Jost ; 2d, St Miguel Nossa Senhora (le Rosario, arc under the jurisdiction of the governor of St Catharine's, who, in some instances, is subject to the government of Rio de Janeiro, and, in others, to the captaincy of St Paul's. The inhabitants are in general hospitable and obliging to strangers. The ladies are handsome and lively, and are chielly employed in the manufacture of lace.
The population of the island, and of its dependencies on the opposite coast, amounts to about 30,000. See La Perouse's Voyage, vols. i. and ii. ; but especially Mass e's Travels in the Interior of Brazil, particularly in the Gold and Diamond Districts of that Country, by authority of the Prince Regent or Portugal. London, 1812. (IT)