196 



PROVINCE OF MATTO GROSSO. 



In 1735, after the return of this ai'mament from the Paraguay, and the arrival 

 of a fleet from St. Paulo, consisting of one hundred and twelve canoes, the 

 mines were divided which Fernando de Barroz (a Sorrocabano) had discovered 

 three years before, a short distance from the present site of Villa Bella, the capital 

 of this province, and where the new colonists died in great numbers from a malig- 

 nant fever, caused by some neighbouring stagnant pools. In the following year 

 the numerous fleet from St. Paulo was attacked by an Indian armada, considerably 

 superior, at the situation of Caranda, on the day of St. Joze. The conflict lasted 

 several hours, in which were killed, amongst others, their brave commandant Pedro 

 de Moraes and Frey Antonio Nascentes, a Franciscan friar, whose extraordinary 

 powers and intrepidity had acquired him the by-name of Tiger. Many others 

 distinguished themselves more fortunately in this conflict, from which they 

 issued conquerors, having caused a horrible carnage amongst the savages. 

 None, however, displayed more bravery than a mulatto, from Pindamonhangaba^ 

 called Manuel Rodriguez, and, vulgarly, Manduassu, Manuel the Great, in 

 consequence of his immense stature, strength, and courage. This gigantic 

 man, who commanded his own canoe, in which he was accompanied by his 

 wife, of the same colour, and various slaves, being attacked by two Indian 

 war canoes, defended himself with such valour and dexterity that neither were 

 able to board him ; at one time he discharged a musket, which his wife succes- 

 sively loaded for him, at another he wielded a vara, (a long pole for impelling 

 the canoe,) the strokes of which were fatal to all those who came within his 

 reach. On his arrival at Cuiaba he was presented with the commission of a 

 captain. 



In the same year a road was opened to the territory of Goyaz, (so called 

 from the Goya Indians,) from whence upwards of fifteen hundred persons 

 departed, with horses and numerous troops of mules, besides those who 

 descended by the river St. Louren^o, attracted by the announcement of gold 

 which had been found in Matto Grosso, from whence, in fact, eighty arrobas 

 of that metal were despatched the same year to St. Paulo in eight canoes of 

 war, each furnished with sixteen chosen men, and commanded by Lieutenant- 

 General Manuel Rodrigues de Carvalho, who conducted them in security, and 

 put an Indian division to flight which attacked them at the entrance of the 

 Pantanos. With this intelligence almost the whole population of Cuiaba left 

 that town for the newly-discovered mines of Matto Grosso, (Large Woods.) 

 Five hundred oitavas were paid for negroes, and they were cheap, from the 

 gain which they afforded. 



