_Boundaries--Prosperity of its first Donatory--Reversion
to the Crown in a bad State--Present partial Cultivation--
Indians--Mountains--Mineralogy--Zoology--Phytology--Rivers,
Lakes, and Ports--Povoações--Abrolhos._
This province, which comprises the territory of the capitania of
the same name, with one portion of that of Ilheos, and another of
that of Espirito Santo, is confined on the north by the province of
Bahia, from which it is separated by the river Belmonte, on the west
by Minas Geraes, on the south by Espirito Santo, and on the east by
the ocean. It lies between 15° 54′ and 19° 31′ of south latitude,
and in consequence of its being like the province of Espirito Santo
imperfectly explored, and from the same cause, of being in great part
under the dominion of the Indians, its width cannot be precisely
determined. A different result might have justly been expected, as
it is without contradiction that part of the new world where the
Portuguese were first established. It has already been shown that
Cabral left here two degradados in the year 1500, and Christovam Jaques
a large number of other individuals, with two Franciscan missionaries
in the year 1504. The excellent quality of the Brazil wood, which
the first explorers found in abundance, soon rendered it an object
of public contract, and the good understanding which the colony
maintained] with the Indians, also contributed to its being regularly
and annually visited for the purpose of so important a traffic.
When John III. partitioned this region into capitanias, the colony of
Porto Seguro had begun to flourish, and many ships destined for India
refreshed in its port. The three Indians, which George Lopez Bixorda
presented to King Emanuel in 1513, were Tupininquins, the allies and
friends of the colonists of Porto Seguro, and the interpreter who
accompanied them was one of the degradados left there by Cabral in
1500. This Bixorda had the contract for Brazil wood, and in order to
show the king a sample of his new subjects, the three Indians were
conveyed to Portugal in the ship laden with this precious wood,
without any change of their rude and native dress, the peculiarity
of which consisted in their bodies being dressed or ornamented with
feathers, and their lips, noses, and ears distorted with immense
pendants; their usual weapons of defence, the bow and arrow, added to
the interest which their appearance excited.
The name of Porto Seguro, (Secure Port,) given to the bay where the
discovering armada anchored, also soon became common to the anchorage
place of the river Buranhen, with the establishment of the colony which
C. Jaques planted upon its margin, in the place where the principal
or high part of the capital is now situated. It soon after became the
factory also for the Brazil wood.
Pedro do Campo Tourinho, its first donatory, after having sold all he
possessed, for the purpose of transporting himself, his wife, Ignez
Fernandes Pinta, one son, called Fernam do Campo Tourinho, and various
families who agreed to accompany him, arrived safe in the port of the
factory. Not one of the other donatories experienced so prosperous a
disembarkation. His colony was a considerable augmentation of that of
C. Jaques, or the factory, where he found many countrymen, some of whom
had been more than thirty years in the country, with their half Indian
progeny, called _Mamalucos_, living in full harmony with the
aborigines.
In a few years he found himself in a considerable and flourishing town.
Besides the town of Santa Cruz he founded that of St. Amaro, and other
aldeias, with which the establishment was greatly increased, and before
his death had acquired a very flourishing state.
The town of St. Amaro, any vestige of which can scarcely at present
be discovered, near the morro crowned with a hermitage of Our Lady
d’Ajuda, three miles to the south of Porto Seguro, was demolished by
the ferocious _Abatyra_ Indians in the year 1564.
The town of St. Cruz, which was commenced upon Cabralia Bay, (Bay of
Cabral,) was removed by its inhabitants near to the river Joao de Tyba,
in consequence of its more favourable soil.
[Illustration:
_On Stone by C. Shoosmith from a Sketch by Ja^s. Henderson._
_Printed by C. Hullmandel._