722 NIEUHOFF S BRAZIL. 



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It is further to be obferved, that whereas a confiderable jjumber of cattle, during the 

 war, was run aftray out of the parks into the forefts and woods beyond the river of St. 

 Francis, it was thought convenient by the great council of the company here, to agree 

 with certain perfons to catch this cattle, and bring it to the Receif, in order to be killed 

 for the ufe of the inhabitants. The time of the faid contrad being expired, it was con- 

 fulted, whether the fame fhould be renewed ; but it being apparent that there were not 

 enough left to quit coft, the fame was laid afide, and this refolution fent to the council 

 of Nineteen. For in the mean-while the inhabitants near Rio St. Francifco and Rio 

 Grande, having applied themfelves with great induftry to the breeding of cattle, their 

 parks were fo well Hocked by this time, that they not only furnilhed the inhabitants of 

 the Receif, but alfo the fugar-mills, with plenty of meat, which was bought at the rate 

 of three and four-pence per pound in the country ; befides that, they provided the gar- 

 rifons with the fame for a twelve-month, after the flore-houfes of the Receif were 

 emptied ; and notwithftanding this, the inhabitants of thofe parts were not out of debt, 

 when thofe of Pernambuko and Parayba were involved over head and ears, which fliews 

 what advantage they reaped from the breeding of cattle ; and that if the Dutch Brazil 

 had continued in peace, thofe parks might have furniflied all the garrifons with meat, 

 without impairing their flock for breeding ; which, together with the great plenty of 

 fifh, are the two main pillars of the ftate of Brazil. 



Notwithftanding all which, it is certain that the inhabitants of the Dutch Brazil can- 

 not be provided with fufficient maintenance, without a yearly fupply from Europe, as 

 well of eatables as other commodities, as has been found by experience, to the great 

 detriment of the company ; after our ftore-houfes were exhaufted by the feveral expe- 

 ditions againft Angola, Meranhaon, and other places. 



In the rivers and lakes here are alfo found crocodiles, by the Brazilians called Jakare, 

 and in the Eaft Indies, Kaymans. They are like the African crocodiles, but not quite 

 fo big, feldom exceeding five foot in length. They lay twenty or thirty eggs bigger 

 than geefe eggs, which are eaten by the Brazilians, Portuguefe and Dutch, as well as 

 the flefh. 



In the feas near the coaft of Brazil, they meet alfo fometimes with great lampreys. 

 Before the bridge from the Receif to Maurice-Town was built, one of this kind of a 

 confiderable bignefs did lurk near that paiTage, where the boats ufed to pafs over from 

 one fide to the other, and fnatched all that fell in this way, (both men and dogs that 

 fwam fometimes after the boat,-) into the water : but at a certain time, by the fudden 

 falling of the tide, being got aground with the foremoft part of the body, he was with 

 much ado brought afhore. 



The diftrift of Pernambuko does alfo abound in various forts of fruits, as well as all 

 the other parts of Brazil, of which we fhall fay more hereafter. 



Upon the captainfhip of Pernambuko, borders to the north the captainfhip of Tama- 

 rika, which owes its name to an ifland of the fame name, being the chiefeft part of this 

 diftrid:, which however extends near thirty-five leagues along the fea-coaft on the 

 continent. 



The ifland of Tamarika lies two leagues to the north of Pomerello, in the fea ; being 

 parted from the continent by the river Tamarika, its moft fouthern point lying under 

 7° 58' fouth latitude. It is from fouth to north about two leagues long, and its circuit 

 near feven. To the jurifdidion of this ifle did alfo belong Goyana, Capavaribi, Teru- 

 kupa, and Abray on the continent. Formerly it had but few inhabitants, and fcarce 

 any houfes, though it is a very pleafant ifle, and tolerably fertile, producing brazil-wood, 

 cocoa-nuts, cotton, fugar-reeds, melons, and fuch like 5 befides wood for firing, and 



frefh 



