260 D-iscovery of the Province of Minas Geraes. [March, 



being more open : and the settlers there augmented so much that, a 

 short time after, it was called by the King of Portugal — " the noble 

 town of Ribeirao do Carmo."* 



Bandeiras were now so numerous that in less than three years the 

 settlement of Antonio Dias became an important Povoa^ao ; it was the 

 same with that of Oiro preto, and both so much extended as to reach 

 each other, and to be united into a single Povoacao mider the name of 

 Villa Rica. The population dispersed in those forests was very consi- 

 derable ; there were also a great many Lavras, but some of them, of 

 course, were richer than others, and these abounded most in adven- 

 turers ; this, as it was easy to foresee, originated dissensions, which 

 chiefly began on the part of the Portuguese, who despised those Bra- 

 zilians to whom they were indebted for the sources of their profit. 

 This contempt, which, by a sort of tacit convention, all the Portuguese 

 joined in, increased the natural ill-will between the two people, and 

 could not long remain unevinced by actions. At the period in question 

 the Brazilian youth were very numerous, for the population was already 

 in the second generation : the intrigues increased, the parties divided, 

 and at last came to an open rupture ; they fought in several places, but 

 the action which ensured victory to the Paulistas, took place on the 

 spot which to this day is called Victoria (in the Comarca of Rio das 

 MoiiesJ, where the Portuguese had fortified themselves in a stone-built 

 house protected by a ditch and drawbridge ; they were completely van- 

 quished, and the slaughter amongst them was terrible. Their bodies 

 were cast into the river which flows near Casa Forte, and thenceforth 

 took the name of Rio das Mortes (river of the dead). 



The leader-in-chief of the Paulistas was named Vianna, who, after 

 this victory, expressly forbade the Portuguese the entrance of 

 Minas. The name of Imboabaf was every where held in detestation 

 and horror. The Paulistas being thus in open revolt, it became neces- 

 sary to take some measures against them. An account of the affair was 

 transmitted to the court of Lisbon, and the king immediately returned 

 orders to the governor of Rio de Saneiro to put an end to those disor- 

 ders. The governor assembled a council of burgesses, who decided 

 that the whole matter should be entrusted to Garcia Rodrigues Paz 

 Leme.J The governor then invested him with full powers, and he 

 immediately commenced his functions by opening a road from his 

 fazonda (farm), situated on the banks of the Paralyba twenty leagues 

 from Rio de Saneiro, to Ribkroa do Carmo ; this road is sixty leagues 

 in length. 



Garcia appeared in the province of Minas Geraes, and with him the 

 establishment of good order ; he kept the Paulistas in awe of the con- 



* Don Jolin I., King of Portugal, in his marriage with the Princess Marianna of 

 Austria, created a bishop in the province of Mina, giving liim the title of Bishop of 

 Blarianna, and granting to that town the immunities of a city. It is the city of 

 Marianna with an episcopal see. 



f An appellation first given by tlie Indians to the original colonists, and which the 

 Brazilians of St. Paulo a.terwards applied to the ambitious Portuguese. 



\ This is the Brazilian who went to Lisbon at the king's invitation, who desired to see 

 him. He presented the monai-ch with a dessert of his country's fruits in a service of 

 massive gold, which is stilMn the king of Portugal's palace. The sovereign observed to 

 him, on his taking leave, that he went away without asking any thing. " What has he 

 to ask who came to give ?" replied the fearless Garcia. The king was very liberal in 

 bestowing honours on him. 



