NIEUHOFF*S BRAZIL. 843 



For it was alledged, that without manifeft danger not above two hundred foldiers 

 could be taken out of the forts of the Receif, which number was not fufficient to attack 

 the enemy, who had already intrenched himfelf there, with hopes of fuccefs : and, con- 

 fidering that thefe forces muft be tranfported thither by fea, we wanted fhips (there be- 

 ing at that time not above two barks at the Receif) both to convey them thither, and 

 to cut off the communication with the continent to the enemy. Befides, that at lead 

 fourteen days provifions were required for this expedition, in cafe the enemy fhould 

 (land his ground, which at this juncture was not to be done, unlefs we would leave the 

 magazines of the Receif quite empty ; there being then no poffibility of attempting its 

 relief. The next thing under confideration was, whether the intrenchments on the hill 

 might be defended or not ? Againft the maintaining of it was objefted, that without 

 frefli fupplies of provifions this fort could not hold out a week, efpecially fmce the ene- 

 my, by cutting off the pipes of the fpring that furnifhed them with frefh water, would 

 foon put them under a neceflity of coming to furrender ; when it was evident, that they 

 might pofl themfelves betwixt the fort of Orange and this hill, and confequently prevent 

 their receiving any fupplies from thence. 



Befides, that the hill, being of a confiderable compafs, was the more difficult to be 

 maintained by our forces, the fort itfelf being irregular, and but flightly fortified on that 

 fide, efpecially where the old church-wall, making up part of the curtain, would not 

 be proof againft the enemy's cannon, and confequently expofe the whole fort, with the 

 garrifon, to the mercy of the enemy : fo that it being beyond all difpute in the enemy's 

 power to cut off all communication with the fort Orange, it was unanimoufly refolved 

 and ordered to leave the faid intrenchments, and to retire with the garrifon, and what 

 provifions and ammunition they had, into the fort Orange, before their retreat was 

 ftopped by the enemy's troops ; it being paft all doubt, that in cafe they could maintain 

 themfelves in that fort, they could at all times, if they were mafters of the field, recover 

 the hill and the whole ifland. 



The council were the more forward in coming to this relolution, becaufe they had 

 received certain information, that the enemy, who knew the importance of the fort 

 Orange, had gained fome of the gunners and volunteers of the fort by prefents, who 

 had engaged to affign them a place where it was eafieft to be attacked, whereabouts 

 they were to charge the cannon with gun-powder only, to facilitate their attack. Two 

 of the gunners were hanged the 23d of June for this treachery ; the reft made their 

 efcape to the enemy. For the better prefervation therefore of this fort, our people left 

 the entrenchments upon the hill the 2 1 ft of June, where the enemy pofted a ftrong 

 body of their troops immediately after. The council likewife ordered the yacht the 

 Heemftede to cruize in conjundion with the Golden-Doe, before the north entrance 

 of the ifland, to keep open free communication for us with our garrifon, and to pre- 

 vent the enemy from receiving any fuccours that way ; and at the fame time fome 

 provifions were fent thither for the ufe of the garrifon. 



But whilft things were thus tranfading with various fortune, though for the moft 

 part to our difadvantage, and the fo long expe^ed fuccours from Holland not arriv- 

 ing, the want of neceffaries encreafed more and more every day in the Receif to fuch 

 a degree, that whatever was found fit for fuftenance, either in the public magazines, 

 or with private perfons, was applied to the common ufe, which however amounting 

 to no more than one pound of bread a-week for each fmgle perfon, many died for 

 hunger ; their legs beginning to fwell firft, which was the fore-runner of certain death ; 

 cats and dogs, of which we had great .quantities, were looked upon as dainties ai that 

 time ; and you might fee the negroes digging the half-rotten bones of dead horfes out 

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