ARACAJU

aracaju, a city and seaport of brazil, capital of the state of sergipe, 170 m. n.n.e. of bahia, on the river cotinguiba, or cotindiba, 6 m. from the coast. the municipality, of which it forms a part, had a population in 1890 of 16,336, about two-thirds of whom lived in the city itself. aracaju is a badly built town on the right bank of the river at the base of a ridge of low sand-hills and has the usual features of an unprogressive provincial capital. good limestone is quarried in its vicinity, and the country tributary to this port produces large quantities of sugar. cotton is also grown, and the back country sends down hides and skins for shipment. the anchorage is good, but a dangerous bar at the mouth of the river prevents the entrance of vessels drawing more than 12 ft. the port is visited, therefore, only by the smaller steamers of the coastwise lines. the river is navigable as far as the town of maroim, about 10 m. beyond aracaju. the city was founded in 1855.