The New Student's Reference Work/Bahia

Bahia (bȧ-ē′ ȧ) or San Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia in Brazil, and the second city in the republic. It lies on the east shore of the Bay of All Saints, one of the finest bays in America. It is built partly on the shore and partly on high ground, and the two parts of the city are connected by steps and a hydraulic elevator. It has a university, exchange, arsenal and a national dockyard, over sixty churches and many other public institutions. It has a railroad to the interior and connection with several cities by submarine telegraph. It exports sugar, coffee, rice, cocoanuts, cotton, dyestuffs, fancy woods and diamonds. Bahia is the oldest city in Brazil. The bay was discovered in 1503 by Amerigo Vespucci, and the city was founded by a Portuguese navigator, named Correa, in 1510. It is visited by yellow fever and other epidemics yearly. Population is about 230,000, and that of Bahia state is 2,117,956, with an area of 164,643 square miles.