§20 NIEUHOFF S BRAZIL. 



On th^ 25th of Augnfl:, upon another review of the fortifications of Maurice's Town, 

 the fame were ordered to be brought forthwith to perfection. 



The fame day the council received letters from Mr. Linge, by the way of Itamarica, 

 dated the 18th and 19th of Auguft, in Parayba, that William Barents had fent him 

 advice from Kunhao the 1 4th of Auguft, that he and Rudolph Bawn had a troop of 

 Tapoyers ready for our fervice, every thing being very quiet thereabouts ; but that the 

 faid Tapoyers had carried away all the cattle belonging to Peter Farcharfon, which had 

 occafioned no fmall fcarcity of frefh flelh thereabouts. 



It was alfo judged abfolutely neceffary by the council, to take into their ferious con- 

 fideration the prefent condition of the forts in Rio St. Francifco and Seregippo del Rey, 

 which being provided but with llender garrifons, and all communication cut off betwixt 

 them and the Receif, and in great danger of being loft ; it was judged abfolutely 

 neceffary, after the defeat of Colonel Haus, to endeavour the prefervation of them, 

 and confequently of the whole Dutch Brazil, by removing them from thence to 

 the Receif. 



To accomplifti this with all imaginable fecurity, Mr. Walbeck was deputed by the 

 great council to the council of war, to know their opinion, by what means thefe gar- 

 rifons, as well as that of Porto Calvo, might be with fafety brought to the Receif, or 

 whether, confidering that they would be forced to leave their cannon behind them, 

 they fhould be ordered to defend themfelves to the laft extremity, in hopes of receiving 

 fpeedy fuccours from Holland for their relief. 



The council of war having well weighed the whole matter, unanimoully agreed upon 

 the following refolution : 



The Refolution of the Council of War. 



" That it was their opinion, confidering the capital city was in danger, for want of 

 a fufficient garrifon, the garrifons of the before-mentioned forts, which in all proba- 

 bility could not make any long refiftance, ought to be taken from thence, with as 

 much ammunition and cannon as could be done, and carried to the Receif. But in 

 regard that the fort of Porto Calvo lay pretty deep into the country, where the river 

 was very narrow and ftiallow, the garrifons of Rio St. Francifco and Seregippo del Rey 

 were to pafs that way, in order to join them, and that they ftiould bury or break theis 

 cannon. 



" By order from the council of war, Auguft 24, 1 645. 



" (Signed) Kornelis Bayer, 



Albertus Oosterman^ 

 L. Van Harkeman, 

 John Denning, 

 Samuel Lambartz, 

 Henry Advocaet, 

 Frederick Pistoor, 

 Captain Haelmeister, 

 Rene de Mouchy." 



Accordingly two barks^, with the fhip Zealandia, were ordered for the execution of 

 this enterprife, to Rio St. Francifco. 



The laft day of Auguft, one of the captains of thefe two barks returned, and gave 

 an account that he,, being advanced into the river of Rio St. Francifco, within a league 



of 



