nieuhoff's brazil. 813 



tvould take fervice under the King of Portugal, and that fuch as would not, fhould 

 be fent forthwith by land to the Bahia, a tedious journey ; befides, that they ran the 

 hazard of being murdered by the way. Many took fervice for fear, but Zweers and 

 Broekhufen being afked again, whether they were not willing to ferve the King, they 

 anfwered, they would rather die than bear arms againft their own nation. 



The 5th of October, all the prifoners under a convoy, both of foldiers and boors, 

 were carried from the Algodais to Pojuka. But fcarce were they come thither, when 

 Zweers was ordered to be fent back to the cape of St. Auftin, where he was put to 

 the rack, to extort from him a confeffion concerning the trumpeter's journey to the 

 Receif, who, as they fuppofed, had difcovered their defign upon Itamarika ; but not 

 being able to bring him to make the leafl difcovery, they fent him, after an imprifon- 

 ment of five weeks, to the Bahia. 



In the meanwhile Mr. Broekhufen, with the reft of the Dutch prifoners, had been 

 forced to travel day and night till the 28th of November 1645, when they came to a 

 caftle called Tapuao, on the fea-fhore of the Bahia, about half a league from the city 

 of St. Salvador, after a dangerous journey : they were carried in ten boats to the city, 

 on that fide where it is beft fortified, the Portuguefe being not willing to let them 

 have a fight of the fortifications on the land fide. Mr. Broekhufen was by order from 

 the governor Antonio Telies de Sylva, made a prifoner in a citizen's houfe, and the 

 foldiers difpofed into quarters. The next day they heard the drums beat up for volun- 

 teers, every one being invited to ferve the King of Portugal, of what nation foever, ex- 

 cept the Dutch. 



The next following year, on the i8th of January 1646, Zweers and Broekhufen 

 intercepted a letter written by Hoogftraten to Hondius, concerning feveral tranfadions 

 to be communicated to the governors, of which Captain Ley having got fcent, gave 

 immediate notice thereof to the governor, the ift of February, who threatening them 

 with no lefs than the gallows, fent them to a loathfome prifon ; with ftrift orders that 

 nobody fliould be permitted to fpeak with them, nor that pen, ink, or paper, fhould 

 be allowed them ; nay, whilft the clerk was fetting down their names, a captain came 

 and told them from the governor, that they were the traitors who kept correfpondence 

 with the Dutch in the Receif; and ordered that a centinel fliould be fet at the 

 prifon door, to keep the inhabitants from laying violent hands upon them ; for as 

 they were carrying to prifon, they made a horrible noife, crying, " To the gallows 

 with thefe impoftors and traitors." They remained five whole days in this prifon with- 

 out any viduals or drink, till being almoft fpent with hunger and thirft, they got leave 

 to write to the governor, reprefenting to him their deplorable condition ; who gave 

 immediate orders that victuals fhould be given them for the future : the Portuguefe 

 keeper being afraid^ that if they fhould give them plenty of victuals at firft, it might 

 turn to the danger of their lives, was fo cautious, as to fend them no more than each 

 a piece of bread well dipt in wine at firft, and after fome hours, fuch another, but 

 fomething bigger, till by degrees their ftomachs were reftored to their former digeftive 

 faculty. 



The iaft day of February the governor gave public audience (which is done three 

 times every year) for the releafing of thofe that are prifoners on the King's account. 

 Upon this occafion, a free accefs was likewife granted to our people to the governor. 

 They paffed through the anti-chamber, lined on both fides with his guards, into the 

 room of audience, adorned with damafk hangings of divers colours: here they found 

 the gov^ernor fitting in an elbow-chair, on the right fide of which ftood the royal throne, 

 raifed four fteps higher from the ground than the governor's feat, which was furround- 



ed 



