NIEUHOFF*S BRAZIL. 809 



I. By fo doing, they mufl quit all the open country from whence they were now 

 fupplied with cattle and meal, which they flood highly in need of, till fuch time that 

 they could receive new fupplies from Holland, and that, in fuch a cafe, they mull 

 expert the enemy immediately at their gates. 



II. That thereby the number of the enemy would be increafed ; the inhabitants of 

 the country, being freed from the dread of our troops, would join with them againft us. 



III. That by fo doing, we mull leave the Tapoyers, that had taken up arms at our 

 requefl, and were to be joined by our troops near Machiape or St. Antonio, to the 

 enemy's mercy. To this, it was anfwered, 



ifl, That as to the fupplies of cattle and meal from the country, they Ihould be in 

 a much better condition to be furnilhed withal when their forces could be fent aboard 

 into all circumjacent parts of the country, whereas now they were forced to remain in 

 one certain place. Befides that, we being mailers at fea, might embark at any time a 

 certain number of men, and land them where we found it moil convenient, which 

 would oblige the enemy, in'flead of befieging the Receif, to divide his forces, for the 

 defence of the country. What related to the increafe of the enemy's forces, by the 

 acceflion of the Portuguefe inhabitants of the country, was to be looked upon as of no 

 great confequence againfl us ; it being more for our intereft to fee them appear as de- 

 clared enemies than diflembling friends ; it being generally known, that their inclina- 

 tions were bent for their countrymen, and that, notwithftanding all their fpecious pre- 

 tences, they miffed no opportunity of giving intelligence to the enemy of what palfed 

 among us ; whereas, if they were once declared enemies of the flates, we fhould have 

 a fair opportunity of feizing upon their cattle, provifions, and other moveables, for the 

 I ufe of the Receif; which being thus provided, would difcourage the enemy from at- 

 tempting to reduce it by famine. 



What was alledged concerning the danger of the Tapoyers, was acknowledged to be 

 of no fmall moment ; but, confidering they had received no news as yet of their mo- 

 tion, it was not judged of fuch vafl confequence, as to be put in balance with the 

 welfare of the whole Dutch Brazil, which depended in a great meafure on the fafety 

 of thefe troops. 



After mature deliberation of the whole matter, it was refolved, on the 1 5th of Au- 

 gufl, by the council, with the approbation of the members of the court of juflice, that, 

 confidering the danger the troops were expofed to, and that on their fafety depended 

 the prefervation of the Receif, they fhould with all pofTible fpeed march thither, and 

 that only fifty men fhould be left in the houfe of De Wit, under Captain Wiltfchut, in 

 order to command fome part of the circumjacent country, and to ferve«as a retreat for 

 our parties that fhould be fent abroad to fetch in cattle, and farinha or meal. 



Purfuant to this refolution. Colonel Haus went thither on horfeback the fame day, 

 to put it in execution the fame evening, if pofTible he could, or, at farthell, the next 

 morning. But it feems Colonel Haus was fo negle£lful, as to delay the march of thefe 

 troops not only that afternoon, but alfo the whole next following day ; and, inflead of 

 retreating towards the Receif, tarried in the fame fugar-mill, without having the leafl 

 intelligence of the enemy's approach ; fo that on the 1 7th of Augufl, being furprifed 

 by the troops of Andrew Vidal, much more numerous than his, before they could be- 

 take themfelves to their arms they were put to the rout. The council being advertifed, 

 that Colonel Haus with his troops were attacked by the enemy in the fugar-mill of M. 

 de "Wit, they called the city militia to their arms ; Mr. Bulleftraet and De Bas went to 

 the houfe of Bavifla ; from whence, as being nearer at hand, they might give the ne- 

 ceifary orders, according as they fhould receive advice from Haus ; and twelve fire4ocks 



VOL. XIV. 5 L were 



