1064 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



hood of Pernambiicco (now inured 

 to hardships and warfare, and in- 

 flamed with thescntinipnts of liberty 

 which the Hollanders liad diffused 

 around them) determined to seek, 

 ^n the woods and plains of the back 

 country, the freedom which rhey so 

 ardently desired. Forty of them 

 put this resolution into effect ; and, 

 after purloining arms and what uther 

 •weapons they coulii convcnltntly 

 secrete, fled from their masters, and 

 retired io a chosen situation in about 

 nine digrees south, near Port: do 

 Calvo, and adjoinina; the rich cuti- 

 Tated country of Alagoas and Per- 

 narabucco. Here they were joined 

 by considerable numbers of luulat- 

 toes, and other negroes. Part of 

 them founded a town ; while others 

 dispersed to the most fertile s|)Ots 

 around, and began the business of 

 cultivation. 



*' They soon, however, felt the 

 want of the softer sex ; and motives 

 of policy for the continuation of 

 their independence, with natural de- 

 sires, determined them to supply 

 their want by force, from the sur- 

 rounding plantations. iS^ot the Sa- 

 bine rape was more general or com- 

 plete : through an extensive tract 

 of country they took e\ cry female 

 of colour ; and, not confining them- 

 selves Io this depredation (perhaps 

 irritated by resistance,) they viola- 

 ted tlie daughters and wives of the 

 planters, carried away the most va- 

 luable effects, and retired to their 

 town of Palmares.* 



" The taste of plunder thus exci- 

 ted, soon demanded still further 

 gratification ; and during their se- 



parate existence they constantly in- 

 dulged it, and were in a short time 

 too formidable to be resisted. Se- 

 veral considerable Portuguese of ihe 

 adjacent parts iiow solicited their 

 Jriendship, by private supplies of 

 l)owder, ball, musquets, and Euro- 

 pean mainifatlures ; receiving in re- 

 turn assuranres of protection, and 

 part of the sold, silver, and specie, 

 which the negroes had taken froni 

 others, A short time consolidated 

 them into a nation : they adopted a 

 personal designation from the name 

 of their town, the Palmarese : and, 

 finding the incessant con"", sion 

 which attends a body of people 

 without regulations, they formed a 

 political constitution, beginning by 

 choosing a prince, whom they sa- 

 luted with the name of Zombif (or 

 Vcmerful :) this dignity was to last 

 for life only : continuing elective, 

 from among the most experienced, 

 brave, and prudent, of the nation. 

 They next selected magistrates, 

 made laws, and instituted a militia, 

 of all capable of bearing arms. Re- 

 ligion «as not forgotten: they 

 adopted the christian ; but, says my 

 author, most barbarously mutilated, 

 and wantinii the sacrament of the 

 priesthood, tlieir costume, and other 

 ceremonies of the catholic chbrch — 

 to the eternal perdition of their 

 souls. 



" Dining this progressive im- 

 provcniLiit tiie population was im- 

 mense, and the cul'tivation of the in- 

 terior kept an equal pace; but, 

 fearing the final irruption of the 

 Portuguese, they chose for each vil- 

 lage a commanding situation, and 



rudely 



* So called from the number of cocoa-palms which the negroes had planted 

 there. 



t This name was to descend to their rulers in perpcfnnm. The author here fol- 

 lowed calls the whole a rustic republic ntid applies the name a? lie would that of 

 •liief-magistrate, orjirst-coitsul. 



