710 NIEUHOFFS BRAZIL. 



pafs, to render it more defenfible : yet was the place well flocked with inhabitants, as 

 well merchants as handicrafts-men. 



Maurice's Town was on each fide guarded by a fort. On the fouth fide by the fort 

 called Frederick-Henry, or the quinquangular fort, from its five bulwarks. This fort 

 was, befides this, furrbunded by a large ditch and pallifadoes, and flrengthened by two 

 horn-works, fo that it commanded the whole plain, which at fpring-tides ufed to be 

 overflown by the fea. 



The fecond fort Erneflus, thus called after John Ernefl, the brother of Count Mau- 

 rice, was four-fquare, with four bulwarks, with a very large ditch ; it commanded the 

 river, the plains, and Maurice's Town. Near this lafl fort was the garden of Count 

 Maurice, ftored with all forts of trees, brought thither from Europe and both the 

 Indies. 



Upon the north point of the Stony Receif jufl over againft the Sandy Receif, lies the 

 before-named fort, built all of flone, being about a hundred paces in circumference, 

 provided with a good garrifon and twenty pieces of great cannon, though in ftormy 

 weather the water flies over it on all fides. It commands the harbour, the land-fort, 

 the Bruin Fort, and the Receif. 



As the ifle of Anthony Vaez was joined to the continent by a bridge, fo it was thought 

 neceffary to join the Receif with another bridge to the faid ifland, for the conveniency 

 of carriage ; the fugar-chefls being before that time never to be tranfported to the 

 Receif, except at low water, unlefs the owners would run the hazard of expofmg them 

 to the danger of the fea in fmall boats. Accordingly the great council, with confent 

 of the governor Count Maurice, agreed with a certain architect for the building of a 

 bridge with flone arches, for the fum of two hundred and fifty thoufand florins. But 

 after the architeft had confumed a prodigious quantity of flone, and raifed the flruclure 

 near to the height of the banks of the river, finding that at low-water there was flill 

 eleven foot water, and defpairing to be able to accomplifh it, left it unfinifhed. But the 

 council being unwilling to defifl, renewed the work, which had already cofl a hundred 

 thoufand florins ; and by means of many trees of forty and fifty foot long, flopped the 

 current till the bridge was brought to perfeftion, which was done in two months time, 

 and a certain toll impofed upon all pafTengers, viz. for an inhabitant two-pence, for a 

 foldier and negro one penny, for a horfe four-pence, and a waggon drawn by oxen 

 feven-pence. 



The fpace betwixt the Sandy and Stony Receif is properly the harbour, which at 

 high water has about thirteen or fourteen foot depth, where the fhips ride very fafe, 

 being defended from the fea by the Stony Receif. The palTage betwixt the Sandy Re- 

 ceif and the continent is called the Salt-River, to diflinguifh it from the river Kapivaribi, 

 which carries fweet water. 



The river Kapivaribi has derived its name from a certain kind of river or fea hogs, 

 which ufed to be found there, and were by the Brazilians called Kapivaribi. This river 

 arifes fome leagues to the wefl, pafling by the Matta, or the Wood of Brazil, Mafyafti, 

 St. Lorenzo, and Real, where, joining with the river AfFogados, near another river of 

 the fame name, difembogues in the fep;^ near the Receif. The river Kapivaribi divides 

 itfelf into two branches ; one turns to the fouth, and pafTes by the fort William, and is 

 called AfFogados ; the other running to the north, retains its former name, continuing 

 its courfe betwixt the continent and Maurice's Town, or the ifle of Anthony Vaez (into 

 which you may pafs over it by a bridge), and fo to Waerdenburgh, where it joins with 

 the river Biberibi, or Salt- River, both which are afterwards mixed with the fea. The 

 two branches of this river furround the river Biberibi on the wefl fide, and to the 



9 eaft 



