PROVINCE OF MATTO GROSSO. 



197 



In 1740 the Indians were again beaten, at the embouchure of the Tacoary, 

 by the fleet from St. Paulo, commanded by Jeronimo Gonsalves, (an Hituan,) 

 who arrived at Matto Grosso with a great number of lances, or spears, that 

 belonged to the Indians who perished in the combat, he having himself lost 

 four canoes laden with merchandise and slaves. After his arrival some domestic 

 Bororo Indians brought intelligence that the Spanish Jesuits had established 

 themselves near the heads of the Paraguay, reducing into aldeias the Guara- 

 parez tribe. 



It being well known that this step was not taken for want of Indians to con- 

 vert in the vicinity of their own missions, the Portuguese counselled them to retire 

 peaceably, which advice was disregarded. The inconstancy, however, of the 

 catechumens obliged the catechists to retrace their steps to the aldeias of the 

 province of St. Cruz de la Sierra, before measures were taken for their expul- 

 sion. 



In the year 1742 Manuel de Lima descended, with five Indians, three 

 mulattoes, and a negro, in a canoe, by the Guapore, Madeira, and Amazons, 

 to the city of Para 



At the same period that Manuel de Lima descended the Madeira, one Joaquim 

 Ferreira, with other traders, advanced up the Mamore to the mission of 

 Exalta^ao. The same persons, or others with a similar intention, returning the 

 following year, found the mission of St. Rosa newly erected upon the eastern 

 margin of the Guapore, almost in front of the outlet by which they had entered 

 to St. Miguel the preceding year. The Jesuitical curate determining to impede 

 their navigation of the river, it was conjectured that, for the better effecting this 

 project, he shortly afterwards removed the mission of St. Miguel also to the 

 same side, and founded that of St. Simao further to the north. It notwith- 

 standing appears that the people of Matto Grosso did not desist from the navi- 

 gation of this river.* 



* " By the treaty of limits, liberty was given to these Indians to remain in the country or to pass 

 '* to the other side of the Guapore, which latter they did by the persuasions of the Spanish curates. 

 " The mission of St. Roza, which consisted of four hundred Indians, and removed in 1754, was 

 " near a waterfall, where D. Antonio Rolin ordered a fort to be constructed. Thai of St. Miguel, 

 " which was in a plain near the river, and had six hundred Indians, was removed in 1753 ; and that 

 " of St. Simao, which comprised more than two thousand inhabitants, and was removed in 1752, 

 " existed near a river a little below the situation of the Pedras." Extract from the History of the 

 Journeys of the Lieutenant-General of Matto Grosso. M.S. 



