Ceará

Ceará, a province of Brazil, on the north coast, with an area of 40,240 sq. m., and about 960,000 inhabitants. The interior presents a succession of wooded hills and wide plateaus; cattle-raising is an important industry; cotton, coffee, and sugar are largely grown; and iron and gold are found. The capital, Ceará, had formerly only an open roadstead, but in 1888 extensive harbour improvements, with breakwater and viaduct, were nearing completion. It is the terminus of a railway to Baturité (90 miles), and has a large trade. Pop. 35,000.