NIEUHOFF*S BRAZIL. 739 



The captainfhip of Siara is one of the mofl: northerly diftrids of Brazil, bordering 

 upon Maranhoon to the north upon the river Siara. It is of no great extent, its whole 

 compafs being not above ten or twelve leagues. 



The river Siara, which rifes deep in the continent, difembogues about feven leagues 

 and a half to the north of the bay Mangprypa, under three degrees forty minutes fou- 

 thern latitude. 



The native inhabitants of this captainfhip, according to the report of thofe that have 

 frequently viljted ir, are very large of ftature, with ugly features, long hair, and 

 black fkin ; except the fpace betwixt the eyes and mouth. They have holes in their 

 ears, which hang downwards upon the flioulders ; fome make holes in their lips, fome 

 in their nofes, in which they wear ftones as an ornament. Their food is farinha, wild 

 fowls, filh, and fruit. They drink moft water, but make likewife a certain liquor 

 out of farinha ; and of late began to be ufed to drink good ftore of brandy, though it 

 was exprefsly forbidden to bring it into the villages, to keep them from the ex- 

 cejflive ufe of ftrong liquors. The country produces fugar-reeds, chryftal, cotton, 

 pearls, fait, and feveral other commodities. Amber-gris is alfo found on the 

 iea-lhore. 



The inland part of the country was in 1630 governed by one of their own Kings, 

 called Algodoi ; in fome refpe£l tributary to the Portuguefe, who had built a fort 

 upon the river Siara, and made themfelves mafters of the whole fea-coaft thereabouts ; 

 notwithftanding which they were in continual broils with one another, till 1638 this 

 fort and the whole country was taken by the Dutch from the Portuguefe, in the 

 ibllowing manner. 



Count Maurice and the council being folicited by the natives of that country to 

 make themfelves mafters of the Portuguefe fort on that fide, and to deliver them from 

 the opprellion they lay under at that time, they offering their affiftance, and giving 

 two young lads of their beft families, as pledges of their fidelity, this condition was 

 refolved upon. The chief command over the troops defigned for this exploit was 

 conferred on Colonel John Garftman, a man of more than ordinary conduct in martial 

 affairs, though, as the cafe then ftood, this enterprife was not likely to meet with any 

 confiderable difficulties ; being affured of the affiftance of the Brazilians, who bore 

 an old hatred to the Portuguefe, and were acquainted with the ftrength and condition 

 both of their forces and places. Garftman being provided with fhips, men, ammu- 

 nition, and all other neceffaries requifite for fuch an expedition, fet fail towards the 

 river Siara ; where being met by the Algodoi, or King, with white enfigns in token 

 of peace, and having landed his men, two hundred of the natives joined with them» 

 With thofe he marched dire<Slly to the fort, which after a brave refiftance from the 

 Portuguefe, who killed fome of his men, he took by ftorm, and made moft of the gar- 

 rifon prifoners, among whom were fome commanders of note. They found good 

 ftore of cannon and artillery in the place. 



Since that time, the Dutch built a fmall fort upon the Siara, unto which they gave 

 likewife the name of Siara, which was provided with a garrifon of betwixt thirty and 

 forty foldiers only ; not fo much for the defence of the country, as to maintain a 

 good correfpondency with the Brazilians, who, being very numerous in thofe parts, 

 might do us confiderable fervice in time of war. It was upon this confideration, that 

 the great council always commanded their officers, fent thither, to cultivate a good 

 underftanding with them ; and at feveral times fent them fome fmall prefents, which 

 however proved ineffedual in the end, for in 1644 they attacked and killed feveral 



VOL. XIV. 5 A of 



