PROVINCE OF SEREGIPE D'EL REY. 



347 



CHAP. XVI. 



PROVINCE OF SEREGIPli d'eL REY. 



ColonizalioTi — Reduction of the Indians — Extent — Mountains — Rivers and 

 Lakes — Mi7ieralogy — Zoology — Phytology — Povoafdes. 



The conquest and colonization of this province was commenced in the govern- 

 ment of Christovara de Barros, deputy-governor of Bahia, in 1590, in conse- 

 quence of orders which he received from King Phihp II. at the request of the 

 inhabitants between Rio Real and Itapicuru, who lived in a state of great 

 inquietude, as well from the Indians of the country as the French pirates, who 

 frequented the coast in search of Brazil wood. It was for a considerable 

 period a district of Bahia. 



After a century had elapsed, it began to have oavidors about the year 1696, 

 at which period its diminutive population, involved in anarchy by a faction of 

 some of the leading persons, disregarded entirely the orders of the governor- 

 general. The leaders were prosecuted ; but they obtained pardon of their 

 Sovereign, upon condition of subjecting the Tupinambazes of the country, who 

 had always been a considerable obstacle to the augmentation of the colony. 

 They succeeded in subjugating the Indians in part, and the rest were reduced 

 afterwards by the exertions of the Jesuitical missionaries, and established in 

 various aldeias. This province has nearly ninety miles of coast from the Rio 

 Real, which divides it from that of Bahia, to the St. Francisco, which separates 

 it from Pernambuco, and nearly one hundred and forty miles in width, termi- 

 nating almost in an angle at the small river Xingo, about eight miles below the 

 great fall of Paulo AfFonso. 



It may be considered as divided into two parts— eastern and western. The 

 first, which is about forty miles in width, is commonly distinguished by the ap- 

 pellation of Mattas, in consequence of its extensive woods, which are, however, 

 diminishing considerably from the axe of the cultivator of the sugar cane and 

 cotton tree ; and the western part, which is larger, has acquired the denomina- 

 tion of Agrestes, from the sterility of its soil, commonly stony, with few woods 

 or fertile lands, and very deficient in water. 



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