NIEUHOFF*S BRAZIL. 725 



the rivers Tujukapape and Maflerandaku, as likewife from the fea. For the reft, the 

 fhore all along the river being very marfhy and full of Manga trees, is of a very diffi- 

 cult accefs. The fhore towards the fea-fide is very flat, but woody, which, together 

 with the fands that are at fome diftance in the fea, makes the approach of fliips very 

 dangerous on that fide. Formerly the court of judicature of the captainfhip was kept 

 in this ifland but was afterwards transferred from thence, as we told you before, to 

 the town of Goyana and Kapivaribi on the continent, becaufe thefe places were both 

 more populous, and more fugar-mills were built thereabouts, the ground being much 

 better here than in the ifland. In my time there were five judges belonging to this 

 court, three of which Hved at Goyana, and the other two in the ifle of Itamarika. 

 However, this court was afterwards likewife removed from Goyana. In the year 1641, 

 Mr. Peter Pas was direftor of the captainfliip of Itamarika for the Wefl; India com- 

 pany, and Captain Sluiter commander-in-chief over the foldiers. 



This captainfliip has derived its name from the capital city, which has borrowed 

 hers of the river Parayba, upon which it is fituate. It is one of the mod northerly 

 captainfliips, about five leagues diflant from the fea. It was formerly in the poffeflion 

 of the French, who were in 1585 chafed from thence and feveral other harbours, by 

 the Portuguefe general Martin Leytan. 



Five leagues upwards the river Parayba, is a city founded by the Portuguefe, and 

 after Philip King of Spain, called Filippen, and Noffa Senhora de Nives, otherwife Pa- 

 rayba, from the river Parayba ; which name was by the Dutch, after they had in 

 November 1633 conquered the whole captainfhip, changed into that of Frederick's 

 Town, after Frederick Henry Prince of Orange. This city has been but lately built 

 by the Portuguefe, and had feveral flately houfes with marble pillars, the reft being 

 only of ftone. Here is kept the court of judicature of this captainfhip. Before the 

 time of the rebellion of the Portuguefe, this place was inhabited as well by the Portu- 

 guefe as Dutch, being much frequented by the inhabitants of the circumjacent country, 

 who ufed to exchange their fugar for what other commodities they ftood in need of, 

 which was afterwards from thence tranfported to other places. 



Within the mouth of the river Parayba, were three very confiderable forts. One 

 on the fouth point, by the Portuguefe called Catharine, but by Count Maurice after- 

 wards named Margaret after his fifter. It was defended with five goodly baftions, and 

 a hornwork without. 



The fort called St. Antonio by the Portuguefe, was built upon a fmall ifland, which 

 by a narrow branch was feparated from the north point. This is only the remainder 

 of a large four-fquare fort, formerly eredted by the Portuguefe, which was afterwards 

 rafed by the Dutch, part of it having been wafhed away by the river. It is furrounded 

 with pallifadoes and a good ditch, fupplied with water from the before-named branch 

 of the river ; the walls are very ftrong, and upon a battery are mounted fix iron 

 pieces of cannon. It may be defended by the cannon both from the city of Parayba, 

 and from the fort Margaret, lying jull oppofite to it on the fouth-fide, which is the 

 reafon it was always but carelefsly guarded by the Portuguefe. 



The third fort lies upon a triangular ifland, called Reftinga, not far from thence, 

 more upwards the river. It was ftrengthened with pallifadoes, and upon the batteries 

 were mounted five brafs, and as many iron pieces of cannon. 



The captainfhip of Parayba is watered and divided by two confiderable rivers, viz. 

 the Parayba and Mongoapa, otherwife called St. Domingo. The great river of Parayba 

 lies under the fixth degree twenty-four minutes, four leagues to north of Cabo Blanco, 

 and difcharges itfelf in two branches into the fea, being feparated by a large fand-bank. 



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