312 



PROVINCE OF BAHIA. 



at this period making universal progress in their attempts against the new 

 settlers. An armament was accordingly prepared, of five ships, with six hun- 

 dred volunteers, four hundred degiadados, (criminals,) an abundant provision 

 of every thing requisite for the foundation and defence of the colony, some 

 Jesuitical priests, in order to catholicize the Indians, and many other sacer- 

 dotals for the administration of that faith. This important enterprise was 

 intrusted to an illustrious individual named Thome de Souza, who had distin- 

 guished himself in Africa and India, and the jurisdiction of the Brazilian state, 

 or New Lusitania, was conferred upon him under the title of governor general. 

 By this measure the sovereign suspended and limited the power which had 

 been given to the donatories of the different capitanias. Doctor Pedro Borges 

 was appointed ouvidor general, to register the proceedings of all the capitanias. 

 Antonio Cardozo de Barros, procurador of the royal treasury, (or attorney 

 general,) and some servants of the king were to receive situations in the public 

 offices. 



The squadron left Lisbon on the 2d of February, 1549, and on the 29th of 

 March, arrived in the port where the unfortunate donatory had been established, 

 and a short distance from the place then occupied by Correa, The situation of 

 Coutinho's establishment did not appear to Thome de Souza to be well 

 selected ; and he commenced the projected city in the place where the chapel 

 of Our Lady d' Ajuda is situated, about a mile further to the north, against 

 the votes of some individuals who preferred the site of Montserrat. 



In the following year a galliot was ordered out, laden with European animals, 

 commanded by Simon da Gama ; and in the year 1551, the same succour was 

 furnished by a squadron, of which Antonio d'Oliveira was commander: he 

 brought some young females of noble extraction, from the orphan estabhshment, 

 strongly recommended by Queen Donna Catharina to the governor, in order 

 that they might be betrothed in marriage, with certain portions, to the principal 

 persons of the state. Similar assistance was annually continued, during the 

 quadrennial government of the first governor and of his successor Duarthe de 

 Costa. The Jesuits, at the head of whom was the celebrated P. M. Nobrega, 

 pursued their purpose of civilizing and introducing Christianity amongst the 

 Indians, through the imposing mediumof ceremonies, parade, and pomp, with 

 remarkable and continued success, up to the period of the general expulsion of 

 their sect : and the colonists of Brazil, particularly those of this province, are 

 indebted most materially for the reduction of many of the hordes of Indians who 

 occupied the coast, to the great influence which the Jesuits acquired over them. 



