ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 



1005 



rudely fortified it. Palmares was, 

 by this time, near a Ie"ague in cir- 

 cumference ; and was surrounded 

 with a double staccade of immense 

 timbers, taken from the ponderous 

 trunks of the largest trees in the 

 surrounding woods ; these they 

 squared, and piled to a considerable 

 height, forming in parts a regular 

 bulwark ; with (for entrances) three 

 extensive ports of the same wood, 

 having platforms over each. These 

 entrances were each guarded, in 

 times of peace, by two hundred 

 soldiers and a chief of approved 

 valour. 



" Within the walls the dwellings 

 ■were dispersed and irregular, a great 

 portion of ground being reserved 

 for cultivation. The inhabitants 

 were supplied with water from a 

 lake in which were fish, aitd rivu. 

 lets spread in various directions. In 

 the centre of the town was a singu- 

 lar mount; one of its sides rising 

 perpendicularly, and so high that it 

 commanded a view of the surround- 

 ing country. The palace of the 

 .prince was extensive ; the houses of 

 some individuals were (in their style) 

 magnificient ; and the whole popu- 

 lation amounted to full twenty thou- 

 sand souls. In short, the prospe- 

 rity of the nation had risen to such a 

 pitch, they were so powerful, their 

 depredations so extensive, and their 

 Tengeance (when excited) so des- 

 tructive, as to alarm the country in 

 general, and seem finally to threaten 

 the existence of the European co- 

 lony. Government were seriously 

 anxioiis, and bent their entire atten- 

 tion, to reduce the Palmarcse ; who 

 at this time (A.D. It».'j6) had con- 

 tinued sixty years unmolested, and 

 saw their third generation. Ceatano 



Mello, governor of Pernarabucco, 

 accordingly sent a plan for this pur- 

 pose to don John de Lancastro, 

 captain-general* and governor of 

 Bahia;who, for its execution, im- 

 mediately dispatched a thousand 

 troops to join the forces of Pernara- 

 bucco. The latter alone amounted 

 to three thousand men ; besides a 

 body of Indians, armed domestics, 

 and volunteers : the whole thus 

 foruiing an array of six thousand ; 

 supplied with every necessary for 

 olfensive war, except artillery. 



" The Palmarese, on being inform- 

 ed of the intended invasion, had col- 

 lected all their small resources, 

 called in their militia and the inha- 

 bifants of the viliages, desolated the 

 surrounding country, and thrown 

 every hinderance to the march of 

 the hostile troops. The Portuguese, 

 however, soon arrived ; but, as they 

 viewed the staccaded walls of the 

 town, were struck with astonish- 

 ment, not unmixed with dismay, at 

 the appearance of the soldiers sta- 

 tioned on the bulwarks, and the 

 firm preparations which they be- 

 held in every part for a vigorous 

 resistance. 



" While this was passing, and the 

 army was yet unformed, the prince 

 Zombi, with a strong detachment, 

 made a rapid sally ; and brought oi^ 

 a partial engagement which ended 

 M ith considerable loss to the inva- 

 ders. 



" The place was now formally 

 invested ; and various attempts were 

 made to cnt an entrance by heavy 

 hatchets, but without effect : while 

 storming parties with scaling ladders 

 were equally unsuccessful, meeting 

 the most deslructire fire from the 

 besieged. Unfortunately, the Pal- 

 marese 



• The usual title of the governors of Bahla. 



