LIMA, Manoel de, Brazilian explorer, born in Sao Pablo in 1685; died in Para in 1750. He was a Jesuit, and was employed for many years in the missions of the Moxos Indians, of which he became president in 1735. As the missions that had been founded since 1684 covered a large area, Lima had ample opportunity during his travels to explore the country. The Moxos missions having become important, Antonio Rolim de Moura, governor of Para, saw the necessity of opening a more direct way between them and the capital of the province, and summoned Lima to Belem in 1742. His health failed in consequence of the fatigue of his journey, and, being unable to return to his missions, he remained in Para, using his influence to promote useful works and explorations of the province under his charge. In 1751 Rolim de Moura utilized the road that was first traversed by Lima, and, sending an expedition to the Moxos missions, secured to Europeans the vast country explored by the Jesuit.