PROVINCE OF BAHIA. 



313 



Duarthe da Costa was succeeded in 1558, by Mendo de Sa, who obtained the 

 government for fourteen years, during which period this province advanced con- 

 siderably. He also afforded assistance to all the capitanias whose colonization 

 was opposed by the Indians. This province is divided into three comarcas—- 

 Ilheos, Jacobina, and Bahia. 



Comarca of the Ilheos. 



This comarca, which extends from the river Jiquirica to the Belmonte or 

 Jiquitinhonha, occupies the territory of the suppressed capitania of the same 

 name, which at first took in an extent of fifty leagues of coast, from the em- 

 bouchure of the Jaguaripe opposite the southern point of the island of Itaparica 

 ( afterwards from the islajid of Tinhare,) to the commencement of the capitania 

 of Pedro do C. Tourinho. Its first donatory was George de Figueyredo Correa, 

 a fidalgo of the King, and escrivam of the treasury (or chancellor of the ex- 

 chequer.) The public situation which he held prevented his going personally 

 to colonize it; he therefore nominated a Spanish cavalier, Francisco Rameiro, 

 and intrusted him with the command of an armament equipped with every thing 

 requisite for the purpose, and which arrived safe in the port of the island of 

 Tinhare. Here Rameiro founded a town upon the morro of St. Paulo ; but, 

 becoming disgusted with the situation he had chosen, the colony was removed 

 to the river of Ilheos, where a new town was commenced, and received the 

 name of St. George, in honour of the proprietor. War was maintained against 

 the Indians for a few years, but being a tribe of the Tupininquins, who possessed 

 much more docility of character than any of the others, friendship was at last 

 established with them ; and the harmony which afterwards prevailed tended 

 greatly to the augmentation of the capitania, and many rich men of Lisbon 

 ordered sugar-works to be erected, which produced a rapid increase of popula- 

 tion and commerce. 



Jeronimo Alarcao succeeded his father, Figueyredo Correa, and shortly 

 afterwards, by royal consent, he sold this capitania to Lucas Giraldes, who ex- 

 pended a considerable capital in its improvement, which was, however, rendered 

 futile in consequence of the destruction occasioned by the Aimbores, who fell 

 upon his people, killed a great many, and compelled the rest to retire to Bahia. 

 Mendo de Sa went personally to succour the unfortunate colonists, and carried 

 havoc amongst the Indians, about the year 1570. 



One of the successors of Lucas Geraldes transferred this capitania to D. 

 Ellena de Castro, for the pay;iient of a debt ; in the possession of which ilkis- 



s s 



