266 JOURNEY FROM CARAVELLAS 



which they consume, from Santa Cruz. The convent of St. Bento 

 at Rio has a considerable fazenda in this neighbourhood, which is 

 under the management of a priest. The people of Porto Seguro have 

 the reputation of being good sailors, and as the commercial intercourse 

 with Baliia is very active, there is more frequent opportunity here, 

 than at any other part of the coast, to make a voyage thither. The 

 vessels which are used in this trade, are but small lanchas garupeiras, 

 which sail with great swiftness, even when the wind is not favourable. 

 They carry two small masts, of which the mizen is the shortest ; the 

 mainmast has a broad square sail, the mizen a small triangular one; 

 they can be set in such a manner, that the vessel runs as close as pos- 

 sible to the wind, when others cannot sail at all. 



The earlier history of Porto Seguro presents many remarkable 

 events. During the Dutch war in Brazil, this place had not above 50 

 inhabitants, and in the neighbourhood there were three Indian vil- 

 lages. At that time there were only 40 Portuguese on the river Cara- 

 vellas. In the last half of the 17th century, some remains of the Tu- 

 pinambas and Tamoyos united with their enemies, the Aymores, or 

 Botocudos, against the Portuguese. The Tupiniquins were the allies 

 of the latter ; but their enemies were far superior to them, and de- 

 stroyed Porto Seguro, St. Amaro, and Santa Cruz. In the first place, 

 as vSouthey relates, they surprised the inhabitants at mass. Porto 

 Seguro is said to have been more considerable at that time, than it 

 now is. An allied chief of the Tapuyas, from the Rio S. Antonio, 

 named Tateno, is said to have assisted this town against his country- 

 men, and saved it from entire destruction. Of the Indian villages 

 above-mentioned, none now exists except the Villa Verde, which is 

 situated a short day's journey up the river. It consists entirely of In- 

 dians ; only the priest f padre vigario j, and the escrivam, are Portu- 

 guese. Most of the Indians, however, live dispersed on their planta- 

 tions, and visit their houses in the town on Sundays and hohday.s 



