A VOYAGE TO 



sand of their Indians into captivity, tlie greater part 

 of whom, were sold and distributed as slaves. The 

 Jesuits complained to the king of Spain and to the 

 pope; the latter fulminated his excommunication. The 

 Paulistas attacked the Jesuits in their college, and put 

 their principal to death, expelled the remainder, and 

 set up a religion of their own; at least no longer ac- 

 knowledged the supremacy of the pope. In conse- 

 quence of the interruption of the African trade during 

 the Dutch war, the demand for Indian slaves was very 

 much increased. The Paulistas redoubled their ex- 

 ertions, and traversed every part of the Brazils in arm- 

 ed troops, to the great terror of the Indians; who were 

 on some of the principal rivers numerous, and estab- 

 lished in villages. The foundation was laid of en- 

 mity to the Portuguese, which continues to this day, 

 although a complete stop was put to the infamous prac- 

 tice in the year 17^6. 



This little republic like all others, was continually 

 distracted by internal factions. Two families, the 

 Piratiningo and the Thaubatenos, were continually 

 struggling for a monopoly of power, and actually 

 engaged in a civil war; but a reconciliation was brought 

 about by the interposition of some ecclesiastics, who j 

 proposed that the governor should be alternately elect- | 

 ed from the members of the rival families. This con- 

 tinued for nearly a century. When the house of Bra- 

 ganza in 1640, ascended the throne, the Paulistas in- 

 stead of acknowledging him, conceived the idea of 

 electing a king for themselves.* They actually 



* Everj thing facilitated such a revolution. Their habits of 

 obedience to any legitimate authority hung loosely about them arid 

 might Qasilj be shaken off. There was but one road whereby they 



