PROVINCE OF PIAUHY. 



425 



vicinity of the river Poty, commanded by a domestic Indian, who had fled 

 from an aldeia of Pemambuco, and who animated them to a desperate resist- 

 ance, until he perished in swimming across the Parnahiba. Mandu Ladino 

 was the common name by which this chieftain was designated. 



More than fifty years had elapsed without any intelligence of the existence 

 of wild Indians within the precincts of the province, when, about the year 1760, 

 on its southern side, a band appeared, who from that period have annoyed the 

 colonists very much, and have compelled them to abandon a great number of 

 fazendas for breeding cattle. The whites give this tribe the appellation of 

 Pimenteiras, in consequence of there being a situation so denominated in the 

 district which they occupy. They have their dwelling places between the heads 

 of the rivers Piauhy and Gurguea, near the boundary of the province, being 

 surrounded by the establishments of the Portuguese. Within their territory 

 there is a large lake abounding with fish, near which they take up their residence 

 for a considerable period of the year. It is conjectured that they were, or at 

 least in part, descendants of various families who lived domesticated with the 

 whites in the vicinity of Quebrobo, and from whom they deserted about the 

 year 1685, in order to avoid marching under the banners of the forces equipped 

 against their Indian brethren. Their hostilities commenced in consequence of 

 a dog being killed in the vicinity of Gurguea, whither they had proceeded upon 

 an occasion of hunting. In a frustrated assault which they made, eighty bows 

 were found, from which it was inferred they had a considerably greater number of 

 men capable of using that weapon. Domingos Jorge, a Paulista, and Domingos 

 Affonso, from Maffra, in Portugal, were the first persons who began the con- 

 quest of this province. Towards the year 1674, the latter possessed a fazenda 

 for breeding cattle on the northern side of the river St. Francisco. The great 

 injury which he there sustained from the central Indians, and the desire of aug- 

 menting his fortune with similar possessions, urged him to undertake the con- 

 quest of the northern country, for w^hich object he assembled all the people he 

 could accumulate, and having passed the serra of Dois Irmaos, (Two Brothers,) 

 towards the north, he, fortunately for himself, encountered the Paulista before 

 mentioned, who was in the progress of reducing Indians to captivity, and they 

 afforded mutual succour to each other. Having ultimately captured a consi- 

 derable number, and caused the remainder to retire, the Paulista returned to 

 his country with the greater part of the captive Indians, and the European 

 remained master of the territory. Other companies made similar entries into 

 this district, the said Affonso always remaining supreme captain of the whole, 



3 I 



