ALAGOAS, a maritime state of Brazil, bounded N. and W. by the
state of Pernambuco, S. and W. by the state of Sergipe, and E. by
the Atlantic. It hasan area of 22,584 sq. m. A dry, semibarren
plateau, fit for grazing only, extends across the W. part of
the state, breaking down into long fertile valleys and wooded
ridges towards the coast, giving the country a mountainous
character. The coastal plain is filled with lakes (logoas),
in some cases formed by the blocking up of river outlets by beach
sands. The valleys and slopes are highly fertile and produce
sugar, cotton, tobacco, Indian corn, rice, mandioca and
Iruits. Hides and skins, mangabeira rubber, cabinet woods,
castor beans and rum are also exported. Cattle-raising was
formerly a prominent industry, but it has greatly declined.
Manufactures have been developed to a limited extent only,
though protective tariff laws have been adopted for their
encouragement. The climate is hot and humid, and fevers are
prevalent in the hot season. The capital, Maceio, is the
chief commercial city of the state, and its port (Jaragua)
has a large foreign and coastwise trade. The principal towns
are Alagoas, formerly the capital, picturesquely situated
on Lake Manguaba, 15 m. S.W. of Maceio, and Penedo, a small
port on the lower Sao Francisco, 26 m. above the river's
mouth. Before 1817 Alagoas formed part of the capitania of
Pernambuco, but in that year the district was rewarded with
a separate government for refusing to join a revolution,
and in 1823 became a province of the empire. The advent
of the republic in 1889 changed the province into a state. Category:
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