PARAHYBA (PARAHYBA DO NORTE)  , a city and port of Brazil, capital of Parahyba state, on the right bank of the Parahyba do Norte river, 11 m. above its mouth and 65 m . N. of Recife . Pop . (189o), 18,645, including several suburbs and Cabedello; (1908, estimate), 30,000 . Parahyba is the starting-point of the Conde d'Eu railway, now a part of the Great Western of Brazil system, which includes a main line to Independencia, where it connects with the Natal & Nova Cruz line of Rio Grande do Norte, and a branch to Cabedello . The entrance to the Parahyba do Norte River being obstructed bya stone reef and sand bars, only vessels drawing less than 14 ft. can effect an entrance . The " Varadouro," as the lower part of the city is called, is built on the margin of the river and is devoted principally to commerce . Behind this is a low hill on whose northern slope and broad summit the upper city is built, and a tramway line runs to the suburb of Trincheira . There are some good public buildings, including the parish church (matrix) of N.S. das Neves, the old Franciscan convent and church, the government palace, and the treasury . There are a normal school, a lyceum, a national gymnasium, and a school for marine apprentices . Parahyba was founded in 1585 . It was called Frederickstadt by the Dutch, who occupied the Franciscan convent as a government house, and Felippea in honour of the king of Spain when the Dutch were expelled .

Its

original name was resumed on the separation (164o) of Portugal and her colonies from Spanish rule .