Brazil at the Dawn of the Eighteenth Century

Chapter XI: The Old Route from the City of Rio de Janeiro to the General Mines of Cataguás and the Rio das Velhas

176 chapter xi y The Old Route from the City of Rio de Janeiro to the General Mines of Cataguás and the Rio das Velhas In less than thirty days, traveling all day, those who leave from Rio de Janeiro can arrive in the region of the general mines. However , rarely can this schedule be maintained because the roads are so much more rugged than the route from São Paulo. The following is an account from someone who traveled this route with Governor Artur de Sá. Leaving the city of Rio de Janeiro on August 23, they traveled to Parati. From Parati they went to Taubaté and from there to Pindamonhangaba . From Pindamonhangaba they went to Guaratinguetá and then to the back country of Garcia Rodrigues. From there, they went to Riberão. From Riberão, moving all day long for eight days, they arrived at the Rio das Velhas on November 29. They stopped along the way for eight days in Parati, eighteen in Taubaté, two in Guaratinguetá, two at the back country of Garcia Rodrigues, and twenty-six days at Riberão, or a total of fifty-six days. Subtracting these from the ninetynine days from August 23 until November 29, they spent no more than forty-three days on the trail. ...