NIEUH0FF*S BRAZIL. S^^ 



enemy with the cannon from our yachts In his trenches, as we had done that day. 

 About the fame time, a map was ordered to be made, fhewing the true fituatlon of 

 the Recelf, with the turnings and windings of the adjacent rivers and marfhes, as far 

 HS the Baretta, for the better Inftruftlon of the council. 



The 24th of January in the morning, news was brought that the enemy had raifed 

 the fiege of the fort of the Baretta the night before, and carried off all their cannon, 

 being fenfible that as long as they could be annoyed from the fea-fide, and we be able 

 to reinforce them daily with frefh troops, they could promlfe themfelves but (lender 

 fuccefs : but befides that, our people were to ftruggle againft the enemy and famine, 

 they were frequently troubled with defertions ; many of our foldiers, nay, even to the 

 ferjeants and other officers, w^ho begun to defpair of our cafe, running over to the 

 enemy, even at that time when the before-mentioned Ihips, the Faulcon and EHzabeth, 

 were in fight of the Recelf. 



Now the members of the old council began to prepare in good earneft for their 

 return to Holland, they had already, in December 1 646, follcited Mr. Schonenbergh, 

 prefident of the new council, to order fome fhips to be got ready to tranfport them 

 thither, and the Ulyeffmgen had been appointed for that purpofe ; but the fame being 

 not as yet returned from cruizing, they applied themfelves, the 25th of January 1647, 

 to Mr. Van Goch, and told him, that whereas, according to their commiffion, one of 

 them Ihould return after the expiration of three years, they had continued in Brazil 

 thefe fix years, Mr. Kodde having indeed been ordered to return about that time, but 

 his place not being fupplied by another, he died before his departure : that they had, 

 for thefe three years lafl paft, follcited their return, and had two years ago received 

 promifes of being relieved by others ; which had not been performed till within thefe 

 few months, to the great prejudice of themfelves and their families : Mr. Van Goch 

 promifed them to take effedual care to have the fhips got ready, and to fend for the 

 fhip the Ulyeffmgen, in order to their return home. At the time of the acceffion of 

 the new council to the government, and the departure of Henry Hamel, Adrian Bulle- 

 ftraet, and Peter Bas, late members of the great council, the following forts remained 

 ftill in the poffeffion of our Weft-India company : 



The fort of Keulen, at the mouth of Rio Grande, provided with twenty-eight brafs 

 and one iron cannon. 



The redoubt of St. Antonio, on the north fide of the river Parayba, with fix iron 

 pieces of cannon. 



The fort Reftanguets, In an ifland of the fame name within the river Parayba, with 

 four brafs and five iron pieces of cannon. 



The fort Margaret, on the fouth fide of the river Parayba, with fourteen brafs and 

 twenty-four iron pieces of cannon. 



The fort Orange, In the ifle of Itamarlka, with fix brafs and feven iron pieces of 

 cannon. 



Noffa Senhora de Conceptiano, an old battery upon the hill of Itamarlka, with two 

 brafs and eight iron pieces of cannon. 



The redoubt called Madame de Bruin, three iron pieces of cannon. 



The fort Wardenbrugh, alias the Triangular Fort, betwixt the Bruin and the Re- 

 celf ; the firft provided with four brafs and five iron pieces of cannon ; the lafl with 

 fourteen brafs guns. 



The Land Fort, alias St. John's, with eleven iron guns. 



The Water Fort, at the mouth of the river of the Recelf, with feven brafs guns. 



The 



