734 



NIEUHOFF*S BRAZIL. 



far as Rio de la Plate. Not many months after, the ifland of Maranhaon was joined 

 with the Dutch Brazil, but the charges we were fain to be at to defend it againft the 

 Portuguefe, thofe of Para and the natives, which over-balancing the profit the company 

 was likely to reap from thence, it was thought moft expedient to quit the fame, which 

 was done accordingly in the year 1 644 ; or rather, to confefs the truth, by the com- 

 bination of the Portuguefe, thofe of Grand Para and the natives, we were forced to 

 abandon it. 



Before the arrival of thofe new dire<5lors, a fleet had been fent to the Bahia to land 

 fome men there, and to deftroy all with fire and fword ; wdiich, after they had put in 

 execution, and returned to the Receif, the fame fleet, under the command of Admiral 

 Jol and Cornelius Lichthart, was, by fpecial command from the council of Nineteen in 

 Holland, ordered to the Wefl Indies to lie in wait for the Spanifli plate fleet of Terra 

 Fiuma and New Spain ; but they returned without doing any thing, in December 1 640, 

 having lofl: four or five fliips in this voyage. Colonel Koin was much about the fame 

 time fent with a body of foldiers into the captainfliip of Rio Real, to bridle the Portu- 

 guefe, by making a diverfion in their ov^m territories, but thofe troops being but indif- 

 ferently fupplied with neceflTaries in an enemy*s country, and forced to undergo great 

 fatigues, they were fo much weakened, that it was thought advifeable to recal them out 

 of Rio Real, and to aflign them quarters of refrefliment in the garrifons. Major Van 

 Brande had worfe fuccefs than all the refl: j for, being fent abroad with a party to fetch 

 in fome cattle, was put to the rout, and he himfelf taken prifoner. 



In the mean-while that our whole fleet was waiting for the Spanifli plate fleet on the 

 coafl; of America, and we confequently were not in a condition to undertake any thing at 

 fea, our diredlors had all the reafon in the world to fear, that the Portuguefe would take 

 this opportunity to revenge their lofs by defliroying our fugar-mills, which made them 

 leave no {tone unturned to fecure the Dutch Brazil and its inhabitants againfl: the 

 attempts of the enemy : and confidering that a great part of our fecurity depended on 

 the good inclinations of the Portuguefe living among us, it was thought convenient to 

 call an aflfembly of the chiefeft; Portuguefe inhabitants of the three captainfliips of Per- 

 nambuko, Itamarika, and Parayba, towards the latter end of Augufl:, to concert mea- 

 fures how to defend their fugar-mills and fields againfl: the incurfions of the enemy. 



The moft: effe£tual means that could be pitched upon in this aflfembly were, to provide 

 their forts with good garrifons on the borders, and to fecure the fugar-mills, by putting 

 a certain number of foldiers in or near them, for the fecurity of the adjacent fields. 

 This was put in execution accordingly ; and the officers had fl:ri£t charge to keep a 

 watchful eye upon the leafl: motion of the Portuguefe ; notwithftanding which, it had 

 not the defired effeft, -becaufe thofe Portuguefe who lived at a confiderable diftance 

 from us, and near the enemy's frontiers, durfl: not give timely notice of their approach ; 

 befides that, many among them having a conftant hatred to our nation, did favour the 

 enterprifes of thofe parties that burnt the fugar-fields and plundered the mills, ferved 

 them fometimes for guides, and had their fliare in the booty, which obliged our people 

 to be at a confl:ant charge of a ft:rong guard to c;ondu£t their goods, and defend them 

 againfl any fudden attempts. Such an incurfion was not long after made by the Portu- 

 guefe into our territories ; for in November the viceroy, the Marquis of Montelvano, 

 fent two barges full of foldiers to burn ourfugar-reeds in the plains, which they efledled, but 

 durft not go too far, or attempt any thing againfl: our mills, for fear of the foldiers quartered 

 thereabouts, who could not prevent their burning in the fields, as being done in the 

 night-time. The Dutch were the greatefl lofers by it, becaufe they had generally the 

 greatefl flbi^re in thofe fields and mills, befides that the Portuguefe fpared thofe of their 



own 



