PROVINCE OF SIARA. 



413 



but it does not appear whether he was the commandant or not at the period 

 when Capt. Pedro Coelho arrived there. The district, however, was colonized 

 veiy slowly, in consequence of the deficiency of good ports, and those advan- 

 tages calculated to attract a numerous colony. 



This province, which took the name of one of its small rivers, in consequence 

 of the first establishment being founded near its embouchure, is confined on the 

 north by the ocean, on the south by the cordillera of Ararippe or Cayriris, 

 which divides it from that of Pernambuco, on the east by the provinces of Rio 

 Grande and Parahiba, and on the west by that of Piauhy, from which it is 

 separated by the Hibiapaba serra. It is computed to be about three hundred 

 miles at its greatest length and width. 



The whole was principally in the power of the numerous nation of Potiguaras, 

 (although there were the Guanacas and Jaguaruannas,) divided into various 

 hordes. The main part of them were Christianized by the exertions of the 

 Jesuits, for which purpose they had an hospicio in Aquiraz, whose ruins are 

 now called Collegio. The first catechists of this people were two Capuchin 

 missionaries left here by Frey Christovam, from Lisbon, the first friar of Para, 

 at the entreaties of Martim Soares Moreno. 



The face of the country is almost generally uneven, without any deep valleys, 

 and with few mountains of considerable elevation, if we except the branches of 

 the Great Cordillera, with which it is in great part surrounded. The territory 

 principally consists of a sandy, arid, and sterile soil, partially wooded. Upon 

 the serras alone are to be discovered extensive woods, the soil being substantial 

 and fertile, and there the best plantations of produce are formed, the remainder 

 of the country serving as pasturage for large quantities of cattle bred there. 



The winters are irregular, and commonly dry, some years passing without any 

 rain, the consequences of which are many fatalities. This scourge upon the 

 country is said to be repeated about every ten years, with some exceptions. 

 The heat is intense in the flat parts of the central districts. In 1792, a drought 

 commenced, which lasted four years, during which time all domestic animals 

 perished, and many people. Honey was for a long time the only aliment, 

 which produced various epidemics, and swept off many thousand persons 

 throughout the province. Seven parishes were completely deserted, without 

 there remaining a single soul. 



In 1632, two Dutch vessels of war arrived upon the coast with the intention 

 of making an easy conquest of it, through the medium of an intrigue with the 

 Indians ; and, for the accomplishment of this project, four Indians were 



