Country, which was discover’d first by the famous _Americus Vespucius_,
_Anno_ 1500. when he call’d it _Santa Cruz_; but the _Portuguese_
afterwards nam’d it _Brazile_, from the red Wood of that name which
grows here. It’s situate in the Torrid Zone, and extends from the
Equinoctial to the Lat. of 28 South. The Extent from East to West is
uncertain, therefore I can determine nothing concerning it. The
_Portuguese_ divide it into fourteen Districts or Captainships, six of
which, being the Northern part, were subdu’d by the _Dutch_ about the
Year 1637. and a Peace concluded, allowing it to be call’d _Dutch
Brazile_, which extended from North to South about 180 Leagues: And
since it is not usual for the _Dutch_ to lose their Settlements abroad,
it mayn’t be amiss to give a brief Account how they were outed of this
profitable Country. In 1643 the Face of the _Dutch_ Affairs there began
to alter for the worse, the Magazines of their _West-India_ Company were
exhausted by several Expeditions against _Angola_, &c. and receiving no
Supplies from _Holland_ as usual, the great Council at the _Receife_,
their Capital in _Brazile_, was forc’d to make use of what was due to
the Company, for paying the Garisons and Civil Officers, and by
consequence to force their conquer’d Debtors the _Portuguese_ to prompt
Payment. This oblig’d the Debtors to borrow Mony at 3 or 4 _per Cnt.
per_ Month, which impoverished them so in a little time, that they were
neither able to pay Principal nor Interest. The _Portuguese_ immers’d
themselves in Debt to the Company, because of their hopes that the
Fleets coming from _Portugal_ would quickly subdue the _Dutch_, and pay
off all scores. Besides, there happen’d a great Mortality among the
_Portuguese_ Negroes, which they purchas’d from the _Dutch_ at 300
Pieces of Eight _per_ head. This compleated their Ruin; which, together
with their Hatred to the _Dutch_ on account of Religion, made them
resolve on a general Revolt.
The _Dutch_ at the same time were engag’d in a War with _Spain_ at home,
and Count _Maurice_,[100] who was Governour of _Dutch Brazile_, was
recall’d just in the height of the Plot. The _Dutch_ had several
Discoveries of it, and an account of _Portuguese_ Commissions, importing
that this Revolt was undertaken for the Honour of God, the Propagation
of the Roman Faith, the Service of the King, and common Liberty. They
complain’d of this to the _Portuguese_ Government in _Brazile_, who told
them they would cultivate a good Correspondence with them, according to
the Orders of the King their Master; and wrote so to the _Dutch_
Council, yet still carry’d on the Conspiracy, till at last the Rebellion
broke out. The _Dutch_ renew’d their Complaints, but the _Portuguese_
Government deny’d their having any hand in it, till in 1645 they openly
invaded the _Dutch_, on pretence at first of appeasing the Revolts of
the _Portuguese_ in the _Dutch_ Provinces, according to the Tenour of
the Peace; but afterwards when they had got footing, they alledg’d the
_Dutch_ had murder’d many of the _Portuguese_ in cool Blood; and then
carry’d on the War till 1660, when the _Dutch_ were forc’d to abandon
_Brazile_ in the following Conditions: That the Crown of _Portugal_
should pay the States Eight hundred thousand Pounds in Mony or Goods,
and that the Places taken on each side in the _East-Indies_ should
remain to the present Possessors; and that a free Trade should be
allow’d the _Dutch_ in _Portugal_, and at their Settlements in _Africa_
and _Brazile_, without paying any more Custom than the _Portuguese_. But
other Agreements have been since made between the two States, and the
_Portuguese_ remain in full possession of this fine Country, without
allowing the _Dutch_ to trade to it. This they fancy makes them
sufficient amends for the Loss of their large Conquests in _India_,
taken from them by the _Dutch East-India_ Company; the _Portuguese_
being now the least Traders thither, after enjoying the whole
_East-India_ Trade for above one hundred Years.
[Sidenote: _Account of Brazile._]
_Newhoff_, who gave the best Account of _Brazile_ at that time, assigns
the following Causes for so easy a Reconquest of it by the _Portuguese_:
1. The _Dutch_ took no care to have sufficient Colonies of their own
Natives, nor to keep strong Garisons in the Country. 2. They left the
_Portuguese_ in possession of all their Sugar-Mills and Plantations,
which hinder’d the _Dutch_ from getting any considerable Footing in the
open Country. 3. The Plantations and Sugar-Mills that fell into their
hands by Forfeiture or otherwise, they sold at such excessive Rates, and
laid such Taxes on the Product, that the _Dutch_ did not care to
purchase them. 4. The States of _Holland_, instead of reinforcing the
Garisons of _Brazile_, according to Prince _Maurice’s_ Advice, reduc’d
them lower, notwithstanding all the Remonstrances of the Company to the
contrary; for they were so intent upon their Conquests in the
_East-Indies_, that they seem’d willing to be rid of _Brazile_, which is
now a vast and populous Country, and employs a great number of large
Ships yearly from _Portugal_, who carry home an immense Treasure of
Gold, besides all other Commodities of that Country.
Whilst Prince _Maurice_ was in _Brazile_, the _Dutch_ fitted Ships
thence for _Chili_, which arriv’d there: but wanted a sufficient Force
to withstand the _Spaniard_, while they could be recruited, or gain an
Interest amongst the Natives, which they might have easily done, could
they have settled, because at that time the _Spaniards_ had not
conquer’d the _Indians_ of _Chili_; so the _Dutch_ being too weak, were
forc’d to return without effecting any thing. I shall conclude this Head
with a brief Account of the Natives of _Brazile_ from _Newhoff_, whose
Authority, as I have said already, I found upon Inquiry to be very good.
They are divided into several Nations, and speak different Languages.
They are generally of a middling Size, well-limb’d, and their Women not
ill-featur’d. They are not born black, but become so by the Heat of the
Sun. They have black Eyes, black curl’d Hair, and have their Noses made
flat when young. They come soon to Maturity, yet generally live to a
great Age, without much Sickness; and many _Europeans_ live here to
above a hundred Years old, which is ascrib’d to the Goodness of the
Climate. The _Portuguese_ cut off such multitudes of ’em, that they
perfectly hate that Nation, but were civil enough to the _Dutch_ because
they treated them kindly. Such as live next the _Europeans_, wear Shirts
of Linen or Callico, and the chief of ’em affect our Apparel; but those
within Land go for the most part naked, covering their Privities
slightly with Leaves or Grass fasten’d about them with a string, and the
Men exceed the Women in Modesty. Their Hutts are built of Stakes, and
cover’d with Palm-tree Leaves. Their Dishes and Cups are made of
_Calabasses_, being the Shells of a sort of Pompions. Their chief
Furniture is Hammocks of Cotton made like Network, and these they fasten
to sticks, and use them for Beds; and when they travel, tie them to
Trees. The Wives follow their Husbands to War and elsewhere, and carry
their Luggage in a Basket, with a Child hung about them in a piece of
Callico, a Parrot or an Ape in one hand, and leading a Dog by a string
in the other; while the idle Lubber carries nothing but his Arms, which
are Bows and Arrows, Darts or Wooden Clubs. They know nothing of
Arithmetick, but count their Years by laying by a Chesnut in the Season.
Those who inhabit the inland Parts know scarce any thing of Religion;
yet they have a sort of Priests, or rather Conjurers, who pretend to
foretel what’s to come. They have a Notion of a Supreme Being more
excellent than the rest; some reckon this to be Thunder, and others
_Ursa Minor_, or some Constellation. They fancy that after Death their
Souls are transplanted into Devils, or enjoy all sorts of Pleasures in
lovely Fields beyond the Mountains, if they have kill’d and eat many of
their Enemies; but those that never did any thing of moment, they say
are to be tormented by Devils. These People are much afraid of
Apparitions and Spirits, and make Offerings to pacify ’em. Some of ’em
are mightily addicted to Sorcery, to revenge themselves upon their
Enemies; and they have others who pretend to cure those that are so
bewitch’d. The _Castilians_ converted some of ’em, but the _Dutch_
Ministers were more successful, till they were hinder’d by the Revolt of
the _Portuguese_. The _Brazilian_ Women are very fruitful, have easy
Labour, retire to the Woods where they bring forth alone, and return
after washing themselves and their Child; the Husbands lying a bed the
first 24 hours, and being treated as if they had endur’d the Pains.[101]
The _Tapoyars_, who inhabit the inland Country on the West, are the most
barbarous of the Natives, taller and stronger than the rest, and indeed
than most _Europeans_. They wear little Sticks thro their Cheeks and
Under-Lips, are Maneaters, and use poison’d Darts and Arrows. They
change their Habitations according to the Season, and live chiefly by
Hunting and Fishing. Their Kings and Great Men are distinguish’d by the
manner of shaving their Crowns, and their long Nails. Their Priests are
Sorcerers, make them believe that the Devils appear to ’em in form of
Insects, and perform their diabolical Worship in the night, when the
Women make a dismal howling, which is their chief Devotion. They allow
Polygamy, yet punish Adultery by Death; and when young Women are
marriageable, but courted by no body, their Mothers carry ’em to their
Princes, who deflower ’em; and this they reckon a great Honour. Some of
these People were much civiliz’d by the _Dutch_, and very serviceable
[Sidenote: _Account of the River Amazons._]
to them, but still kept under Subjection to their own Kings. For the
extraordinary Animals, Plants, _&c._ of _Brazile_, I refer to _Newhoff_;
being sensible that the Descriptions of such things are not my Province,
but I thought it convenient to give this Hint for the Diversion of such
Readers as may relish it better than a Mariner’s bare Journal.
* * * * *
The River of the _Amazons_ being the Northern Boundary of _Brazile_, I
shall describe it here.
According to most Geographers it rises in the Mountains of _Peru_, and
is compos’d at first of two Rivers, one of which begins about Lat. 9. S.
and the other about 15. The _Sansons_ call the latter _Xauxa_ or
_Maranhon_, which communicates its Name to the other. ’Twas call’d
_Amazons_, not because of any Nation of Virago’s, who as some fancy are
govern’d by a Queen, and have no Commerce with our Sex; but at certain
times, when they make an Appointment with the Males of neighbouring
Nations, and if they prove with Child, keep the Daughters and send away
the Sons, as the _Greeks_ fabled of their _Amazons_. But the true Reason
of the Name is, that the _Spaniards_, who first discover’d it, were told
of such a terrible barbarous Nation of Women by some of the Natives, on
purpose to frighten them, and that they did actually on several places
of this River find their Women as fierce and warlike as the Men; it
being their Custom to follow their Husbands, _&c._ to War, on purpose to
animate them, and to share in their Fate, as we find was antiently
practis’d by the Women of _Gaul_, _Germany_, and _Britain_.
But to return to the Course of the River. The _Sansons_[102] give us a
Map of it from the Discoveries of _Texeira_, who sail’d up and down the
same in 1637, 1638, and 1639. The River, he says, begins at the foot of
a Chain of Mountains nam’d _Cordelera_, about 8 or 10 Ls. East of
_Quito_ in _Peru_. It runs first from West to East, turns afterwards
South; and then after many Windings and Turnings holds its main Course
East, till it falls into the _Atlantick_ Sea. Its Fountains and Mouth
are very near under the Equator, and the main of its Stream is in the
4th and 5th deg. of S. Lat. The Rivers which fall into it on the North
side, rise about one or two deg. N. Lat. and those on the South side,
some of them begin in 10, some in 15, and others in the 21 ft of S. Lat.
Its Channel from _Junta de los Reyos_ about 60 deg. from its Head, till
it is join’d by the River _Maranhon_, is from one to two Leagues in
breadth. From thence, say the _Sansons_, ’tis from 3 to 4, but grows
larger as it advances towards the _Atlantick_, into which it falls by a
Mouth from 50 to 60 Leagues broad, betwixt Cape _Nort_ on the Coast of
_Guaiana_, and Cape _Zaparara_ on the Coast of _Brazile_. Its Depth from
_Junta de los Reyos_ to _Maranhon_ is from 5 to 10 fathom, from thence
to _Rio Negro_ from 12 to 20, and from thence to the Sea from 30 to 50,
and sometimes a great deal more. ’Tis always of a good depth near the
Shore, and has no Sand-Banks till it come towards the Sea. Its running
in a continu’d Descent from West to East, makes the sailing down it very
easy; and the East Winds, which last most part of the day, are very
commodious for those who sail up this River. From the Fountain to its
Mouth ’tis 8 or 900 Leagues in a direct Line, but the Windings and
Turnings make it about 1200. Some compute it at 1800, and others 1276;
but then they derive its Source from the Lake _Lauricocha_ near
_Guanuco_ in _Peru_ about Lat. 10. Authors differ whether this River or
_La Plata_ be the greatest, which I shall not take upon me to determine.
The Rivers which run into it on the right and left, have their Courses
from 100 to 600 Leagues in length, and their Banks are well inhabited by
multitudes of People of different Nations, not so barbarous as those of
_Brazile_, nor so polite as the Natives of _Peru_. They live chiefly
upon Fish, Fruit, Corn and Roots; are all Idolaters, but pay no great
Respect to their Idols, nor perform any publick Worship to them, except
when they go upon Expeditions.
_Texeira_[103] and his Fellow-Discoverers say, that most of those
Countries enjoy a temperate Air, tho in the middle of the Torrid Zone.
This is probably owing to the multitude of Rivers with which they are
water’d, the East Winds which continue most of the day, the equal Length
of the Days and Nights, the great numbers of Forests, and the annual
Inundations of the Rivers, which fructify this Country, as that of the
_Nile_ does _Egypt_. Their Trees, Fields, and Flowers are verdant all
the Year, and the Goodness of the Air prevents their being infested so
much with Serpents and other dangerous Insects as _Brazile_ and _Peru_.
In the Forests they have Store of excellent Honey, accounted very
medicinal. They have Balm good against all Wounds. Their Fruit, Corn,
and Roots, are not only in greater plenty, but much
[Sidenote: _Account of the River Amazons._]
better than any where else in _America_. They have vast number of Fish
of all sorts in the Rivers and Lakes; and among others, Sea-Cows, which
feed on the Banks, and Tortoises of a large Size and delicate Taste.
Their Woods abound with Venison, and afford Materials for building the
largest Ships. They have many Trees of five or six fathom round in the
Trunk, and inexhaustible Stores of Ebony and _Brazile_ Wood, Cocoa,
Tobacco, Sugar-Canes, Cotton, a Scarlet Dye call’d _Rocon_, besides Gold
and Silver in their Mines and the Sand of their Rivers.
The Nations who inhabit about this and the other Rivers that run into
it, are reckon’d by _Sanson_ and others 150, and their Villages so thick
in many places, that most of ’em are within Call of one another. Among
those People, the _Homagues_ who live towards the Head of this great
River, are mostly noted for their Manufactures of Cotton; the
_Corosipares_ for their Earthen Ware; the _Surines_ who live betwixt
Lat. 5 and 10. and Long. 314 and 316, for their Joyners Work; the
_Topinambes_ who live in a great Island of this River, about Lat. 4. and
Longit. 320. for their Strength. Their Arms in general are Darts and
Javelins, Bows and Arrows, with Targets of Cane or Fish-Skins. They make
war upon one another to purchase Slaves for their Drudgery, but
otherwise they treat them kindly enough.
Among the Rivers that fall into it on the North side, the _Napo_,
_Agaric_, _Putomaye_, _Jenupape_, _Coropatube_, and others, have Gold in
their Sands. Below _Coropatube_ there are Mines of several sorts in the
Mountains. In those of _Yagnare_ there are Mines of Gold; in _Picora_
there are Mines of Silver; on the River _Paragoche_ there are precious
Stones of several sorts; and Mines of Sulphur, _&c._ near other Rivers.
Those of _Putomaye_ and _Caketa_ are large Rivers: the latter is divided
into two Branches; one falls into the _Amazons_ River, by the name of
_Rio Negro_, which is the largest on the North side; and the other,
call’d _Rio Grande_, falls into the _Oronoko_. The chief Rivers that
fall into it on the South side, are _Maranhon_, _Amarumaye_, _Tapy_,
_Catua_, _Cusignate_, _Madere_ or _Cayane_, and many other large ones.
The _Sansons_ add, that on this River, about 200 Leagues from the Sea,
there is a Bosphorus or Strait of one mile broad; that the Tide comes up
hither, so that it may serve as a Key to all the Trade of those
Countries: But the _Portuguese_ being already possess’d of _Para_ on the
side of _Brazile_, _Corupa_ and _Estero_ on the side of _Guaiana_, and
_Cogemina_ an Island at the mouth of it; they may, by fortifying the
Island of the _Sun_, or some other place in its chief Outlet, be Masters
of all the Trade.
_William Davis_[104] a _Londoner_, who liv’d in this Country some time,
gives us this further Account of it, and of the Inhabitants about this
River. They have Store of excellent Wild-Fowl in their Woods, and among
others, Parrots as many as we have Pidgeons in _England_, and as good
Meat. Their Rivers and Lakes abound with Fish, but such as catch them
must be upon their guard against Crocodiles, Alligators, and
Water-Serpents. The Country is subject to frequent and violent Storms of
Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, which commonly hold 16 or 18 hours; and
the Inhabitants are terribly pester’d with Muskettoes. There are
abundance of petty Kings, who live upon their particular Rivers, on
which they decide their Quarrels with Canoes, and the Conqueror eats up
the Conquer’d; so that one King’s Belly proves another’s Sepulcher. The
Regalia by which they are distinguish’d, is a Crown of Parrots Feathers,
a Chain of Lion’s Teeth or Claws about their Necks or Middles, and a
Wooden Sword in their hands. Both Sexes go quite naked, and wear their
Hair long; but the Men pluck theirs off on the Crown. He says ’tis a
question whether the Womens Hair or Breasts be longest. The Men thrust
pieces of Cane thro the Foreskin of their _Pudenda_, their Ears and
Under-Lips, and hang Glass-Beads at the Gristle of their Noses, which
bob to and fro when they speak. They are thievish, and such good
Archers, that they kill Fish in the water with their Arrows. They eat
what they catch without Bread or Salt. They know not the Use of Mony,
but barter one thing for another, and will give twenty Shillings worth
of Provisions, _&c._ for a Glass-Bead or a Jews-Harp.
I come next to the Discovery of this River. When _Gonsales Pizarro_,
Brother to _Francis_ that conquer’d _Peru_, was Governour of the North
Provinces of that Country, he came to a great River where he saw the
Natives bring Gold in their Canoes to exchange with the _Spaniards_.
This put him upon a compleat Discovery of that River from its Fountains
to its Mouth. In order to this, he sent out Capt. _Francisco de
Orellana_[105] in 1540. with a Pinnace and Men: Some say
[Sidenote: _Account of the River Amazons._]
he went also himself, and sail’d down the River _Xauxa_ or _Maranhon_ 43
days, but wanting Provisions, commanded _Orellana_ to go in quest of
some down the River, and to return as soon as he could; but _Orellana_
being carry’d down 200 Leagues thro a desert Country, the Stream was so
rapid, that he found it impracticable to return, and therefore sail’d on
till he came to that which is properly call’d the River of the
_Amazons_. He had spent all his Provisions, and eat the very Leather on
board; so that seven of his Men died of Want. In _January_ that Year,
after sailing 200 Leagues further, he came to a Town on the Bank of the
River, where the People were afraid of him, but at last furnish’d him
with Provisions; and here he built a large Brigantine. He set out again
the _2d_ of _Febr._ and 30 Leagues further was almost cast away by the
violent Stream of a River which run into that of the _Amazons_ on the
right side. He sail’d above 200 Leagues further, and was invited ashore
in the Province of _Aparia_, where he discours’d several of their
Caciques, who forewarn’d him of his Danger by the _Amazons_. He staid
here 35 days, built a new Brigantine, and repair’d the other. He sail’d
again in _April_ thro a desert Country, where he liv’d upon Herbs and
toasted _Indian_ Wheat. On the _12th_ of _May_ he arriv’d at the
populous Country of _Machiparo_, where he was attack’d by many Canoes
full of Natives arm’d with long Shields, Bows and Arrows; but fought his
way thro them till he came to a Town where he took Provisions by Force,
after two hours fight with some thousands of the Natives whom he put to
flight, and had 18 of his Men wounded, but all recover’d. He put off
again, and was pursu’d two days by 8000 _Indians_ in 130 Canoes, till he
was past the Frontiers of that Country. Then he landed at another Town
340 Leagues from _Aparia_, which being abandon’d by the Natives, he
rested there three days, and took in Provisions. Two Leagues from hence
he came to the mouth of a great River with three Islands, for which he
call’d it _Trinity River_. The adjacent Country seem’d very fruitful,
but so many Canoes came out to attack him, that he was forc’d to keep
the middle of the Stream. Next day he came to a little Town, where he
took Provisions again by force, and found abundance of curious earthen
Ware finely painted, and several Idols of monstrous shapes and sizes. He
also saw some Gold and Silver, and was told by the Inhabitants that
there was abundance of both in the Country. He sail’d on 100 Leagues
further, till he came to the Land of _Pagnana_, where the People were
civil, and readily furnish’d him with what he wanted.
On _Whitsunday_ he pass’d by a great Town divided into many Quarters,
with a Canal from each to the River. Here he was attack’d by Canoes, but
soon repuls’d them with his Fire-Arms. He afterwards landed, and took
Provisions at several Towns. He met with the Mouth of a River, the Water
as black as Ink, and the Stream so rapid, that for 20 Leagues it did not
mix with that of the _Amazons_. He saw several small Towns in his
Passage, enter’d one by force, which had a Wall of Timber, and took
abundance of Fish there. He pursu’d his Voyage by many great Towns and
well-inhabited Provinces, by which time the River was grown so wide,
that they could not see the one side from the other. Here he took an
_Indian_, by whose Information he suppos’d this to be the proper Country
of the _Amazons_. He sail’d on by many other Towns, and landed at one,
where he found none but Women. He took abundance of Fish there, and
resolv’d to have staid for some time; but the Men coming home in the
Evening, they attack’d him, so that he ship’d off, and continu’d his
Voyage. He saw several great Towns with pav’d Roads between Rows of
Fruit-Trees into the Country, and landed for Provisions. The Inhabitants
oppos’d him; but their Leader being kill’d, they fled and left him at
liberty to carry off Provisions. From hence he sail’d to an Island for
Rest, and was inform’d by a Female he had taken Prisoner, that there
were Men like themselves in that Country, and some white Women, whom he
conceiv’d to be _Spaniards_: she told him they were entertain’d by a
Cacique. After several days sail, he came to another great Town, near
which the _Indian_ told him those Whites did live. He kept on his
Course, and after four days came to another Town, where the Natives were
civil, furnish’d him with Provisions; and here he saw abundance of
Cotton Cloth, and a Place of Worship hung with Weapons and two Mitres
resembling those of a Bishop. He went to a Wood on the other side in
order to rest, but was soon dislodg’d by the Natives. He saw several
large Towns on both sides the River, but did not touch at them. Some
days after they came to a Town where he got Provisions. After doubling a
Point, he saw other large Towns, where the People stood ready on the
Banks to oppose him. He offer’d ’em Toys in order to please them, but in
vain. He continu’d his Voyage, and on the Banks saw several Bodies of
People. He stood into
[Illustration: THE TRACK OF THE _DUKE_ AND _DUTCHESS_ ROUND THE WORLD
_Reproduction of the frontispiece to the first edition of Woodes
Rogers’s book._]
[Sidenote: _Account of the River Amazons._]