both with the _Miary_, which runs exceeding swift into the Sea.
Between the Capes _Arbres Secs_ and _De la Tortue_, the Coast lies full
of sandy Banks, some of which extend a League into the Ocean.
On the other side of the Promontory _Tapoytapere_ near _Maragnan_,
towards the River of _Amazones_, lie so many Isles along the Sea-shore,
that no Ship is able to approach the same, because the Spaces between
the Isles are overgrown with Trees call’d _Apparituriers_, whose Boughs
shooting down and rooting in the Sea, produce other Trees, which grow so
close together, that they seem one entire Tree with many Branches.
Besides this Inconvenience there is abundance of drift Sand when the
Wind sits from the Shore, which oftentimes swallows the Ships which lie
upon the same.
Beyond _Maragnan_ lie two Roads, the first between the Promontory
_Arbres_ and the Isle _St. Anna_, but dangerous; the other, discover’d
some years since, reaches to the Fort of _Maragnan_, and is as dangerous
as the first.
This Island hath twenty seven Villages, by the Natives call’d _Oc_ or
_Tave_, each Village consisting of four Houses made of great Stakes, and
cover’d with Palm-tree Leaves against the Rain, each House being thirty
Foot broad, and from two hundred to five hundred Paces long, according
to the greater or lesser number of Inhabitants. The first Village,
opposite to _St. Anna_, is call’d _Timbohu_; the second, well known for
two eminent Fishing-places, is _Itapara_; but the two biggest are
_Juniparan_ and _Eussaouap_, each having about five or six hundred
Inhabitants.
This Island of _Maragnan_ lies under a temperate Climate, being seldom
troubled with excessive Colds, Droughts, pestilential Vapors, Wind,
Hail, or Thunder, only it Lightens Morning and Evening in serene
Weather. When the Sun returns from the _Tropick_ of _Capricorn_ to the
North, then it Rains for six Weeks together; but when he declines from
_Cancer_ towards the Southern _Solstice_, the _Trade_-Wind, or Eastern
Breezes rise at seven of the Clock in the Morning, but grow fainter
towards Sun-setting.
[Sidenote: Fruitful Soil and rich Coast of _Maragnan_.]
The Soil of _Maragnan_ is exceeding fruitful, producing abundance of
_Brasile_ Wood, Sugar, Cotton, the red Colour _Roucou_, Tobacco, Balsam
not inferior to the _Arabian_, Pepper, and all manner of Fruits. On the
Coast is often found excellent Amber-greece and Jasper Stones, which the
Inhabitants wore in their Lips. In some places along the Sea-shore
appear Rocks of red and white Stone _Diaphanous_, like Crystal, which
(some say) are as hard as Diamonds, and call’d _Allencon_. The Woods
produce Timber, and the Shore Stones and Shells, of which they make
Mortar. There are also several pleasant Fields and Hills, whose Feet are
wash’d by delightful Brooks, along which they pass in _Canoos_ from one
Village to another. The Woods consist most of Palm-Trees, amongst which
breed all sorts of Fowls and Beasts.
[Sidenote: Fruit-Trees.]
The chiefest of the Fruit-Trees which grow here is the _Accayou_, which
being much bigger than our Pomewaters, hath Leaves not unlike those of
an Oak: and also a Nut resembling a Sheeps Kidney, cover’d with a hard
Shell, which incloses an oylie Pith. Out of these the Islanders press a
very wholsom and pleasant Liquor; as also out of the _Pacoeira_ and
_Bannanas_, both excellent Plants, which will grow in any Ground. This
Plant they pluck up by the Roots wild as soon as it hath put forth three
Leaves; which Leaves being rowl’d up hard together like a Twig, are
again Set, and then sprout up each with ten green Leaves, which when
mov’d by the Wind, rattle like Parchment, and tear very easily: the
Stalk is an Inch thick, from which spread several lesser Branches; under
the Leaves hang yellowish Flowers of a pleasant smell, at whose Stalks
are lesser Leaves resembling little Scoups, full of Juice, in taste like
Honey, and in colour like the White of an Egg: after the Flower follows
the Fruit, very like a Cucumber, onely they are three square, and have a
hardish Shell, which incloses a well tasted and wholsom Pulp, which
commonly grows in Clusters. This Plant, when the Fruit is ripe, is
pluck’d up, from whence another springs up immediately, which bears the
like Fruit the next year; so that this Plant lives as it were by
propagation continually.
The _Bannanas_ bear Leaves of a Fathom long and two Foot broad; the
Fruit is very like that of the _Pacoeira_.
The _Mangaa_ is very like the Apricock both in taste and form.
The Tree _Jaracaha_ hath a spread Crown, leaves like those of a
Fig-Tree, yellow Flowers, and Pears with Shells, and full of Kernels.
The _Ouaieroua_ is an exceeding sweet-smelling Tree, bears a Fruit much
bigger than the greatest Melons.
The _Junipap_, which is much taller, hath Apples, which whilest they are
green are best, yielding a Juice which Dyes Coal-black, and therefore is
us’d by the Natives to paint their Bodies with: The Apples when ripe are
yellow within and without, very well tasted, and melting in the Mouth.
Besides these fore-mention’d Fruit-Trees there are several others that
grow on this Island, amongst which is the _Vua-pirup_, eminent for its
Blossom, which is yellow, blue, and red, and bears delicate Apples,
which ripen best in the rainy Season.
Lastly, the _Pekey_, which three Men cannot Fathom, bears a Fruit of two
handfuls bigness, having a hard thick Shell, and within four Kidney-like
Kernels, each concealing a prickly Stone, which hurts the Mouths of
unwary Eaters.
The Plant _Carouata_ hath Leaves an Ell long, and two Inches broad; they
are very thick and thistly from the middle, and about two Foot from the
Ground grows an exceeding pleasant Fruit, yellow without and within,
three square, a Finger long, and hanging oftentimes sixty in a Cluster.
_Vua_, a sort of Melons, green without, and within full of white Pulp
and black Kernels, and hath a pleasant Juice, dissolves to Water, if cut
in the middle, sweeter than Sugar, and very refreshing.
_Manioch_, a thick Root of the Plant _Manicup_, Leav’d like a Fig-Tree;
being ground to Meal, it serves in stead of Bread.
Besides these already mention’d, there are several other Plants, the
most usual are the great flat Beans call’d _Commanda-ouassou_, and the
long Pease _Commanda-miry_.
[Sidenote: Strange Birds.]
Here are variety of Birds of several sorts, especially of Parrots, which
flye in great Companies, most beautiful to the Eye, and very docible to
speak, and also good for Food.
The Partridges _Nanbououassou_, in bigness no way inferior to a Capon,
have blue Feathers, and also Lay blue Eggs.
The _Ourou_, resembling a Partridge, hath a Combe like a Cock, but mix’d
with three Colours, _viz._ red, black, and white.
The Bats, nam’d _Andheura_, have a mournful Note in the Night, often
biting those they find asleep, and suck their Blood so hard that it can
hardly be stopt.
The Ostriches here call’d _Yandou_, being as tall as a middle-siz’d Man,
cannot flye, but run as swift as a Greyhound.
Their Fowl call’d _Falian_, with long Bills and Cranes Legs, flies very
low, but runs so swift that a Horse can scarce overtake them.
[Sidenote: Strange sorts of Fish.]
The Ocean about _Maragnan_ produces abundance of all sorts of Fish, and
amongst others the _Pyraon_, six Foot long, thicker than a Barrel, and
cover’d with black Scales of a hand-breadth.
The Fish _Camouroupouy_ differs not much from the _Pyraon_, onely in
having fewer Scales.
The _Ougry_, four Foot long, hath a broad Head, and two sharp Fins on
the Back, which wound terribly. This Fish also swimming in the River,
smells of Musk whilest it stays therein.
The like length hath also the _Camboury Ouassou_, whose Hog-like Head,
and yellow scal’d Tail, makes it seem like a Monster.
The _Yauebouyre_ is a Foot in thickness, in length two Fathom, and a
Fathom in breadth, and hath a Tail of half a Fathom long, out of the
middle of which flicks a sharp and great Bone, which makes such
dangerous Wounds, that if any part of a Man’s Body be touch’d therewith,
it must be cut off.
The _Narinnary_, which is much lesser, wounds with its Sting very
dangerously.
The flat Fish _Acaraiou_ hath the length of a Foot, a green Head, thick
Scales, a yellow Back, and white Belly.
The _Araououa_ hath a hard Skin, is eight times bigger than the
_Acaraiou_ and hath a three-pointed Sword, with which it kills other
Fish.
Another sort of Sword-fish is the _Panapans_, whose Sword is a Foot less
than that of the _Araououa_.
The _Picamo_ and _Caramourou_ resemble the Pilchard, and are taken in
great abundance near the Rocks.
The Rivers and Brooks on _Maragnan_ are also very full of Fish, amongst
which the _Pourake_, four Foot long, full of green, blue, red and white
Specks and Streaks, the Skin so hard that no Sword can penetrate it;
wherefore it regards not a blow, but if it moves, it causes such a pain
on the Arm of him that strikes, that he falls down on the Ground.
The _Caurimata_, which is very like a Carp, is the most delicious Fish
that ever was tasted.
The _Pyrain_, without Scales, colour’d red and yellow, hath sharp Teeth,
which cut sloapingly; as also the _Opean_, _Tarehure_, _Paraty_, and
_Jerou_.
The red Crabs _Oussa_, with hairy Legs, breed about the Roots of the
fore-mention’d Trees that grow in the Water.
The white Crabs _Aouara-oussa_ carry the Amber-greece, cast on the
Shores to their Holes.
They have also good Mussles, and well rellish’d Oysters sticking on the
Boughs of the said Trees.
During the rainy Season there are generally standing Pools, in which
yearly breed many Fishes, which are taken up by the Inhabitants when the
Pools begin to dry.
[Sidenote: Divers kinds of strange Beasts.]
Moreover, this Island feeds abundance of four-footed Beasts, amongst
which their wild Deer, Rabbets and Hares, differ little from the
_European_. They have also wild Swine call’d _Taiassou_, who seem to
have Navels on their Backs, which cast a sweet Musky smell; besides
another sort of Swine, not inferior to the former, but of a stranger
shape, being Mouth’d like a Hare, with two long Tusks in their upper
Jaws, and two beneath; their Ears like a Mans; the foremost Feet white,
and hoof’d like an Ass; the hindermost part of their Body like a Bear,
and full of Bristles, half white and half black, three handfuls long:
when they creep in their Holes their staring Bristles fall; they keep
much amongst Brambles, feed on Apples and Roots; In the Winter Season
they Stye themselves up in their Holes.
Here are also Pismire-eaters, call’d _Tamandua_, with a Boars Head, Dogs
Ears, sharp Snout, Horses Hair, and Ox Feet.
The _Tapiyre-ete_ differ little from wild Cows, onely they have shorter
Legs and Tails, and wanting Horns, are Arm’d in stead thereof with
Teeth; in their Heads are often found a Stone like the _Bezoar_ Stone.
Several sorts of _Armadillo_’s here differ much in form each from the
other.
The wild Cats _Margaia_ are caught for their curious Skin.
The Foxes _Janovare_, and Leopards _Sovassovaran_, both curiously
mark’d, are very ravenous.
Here is also a deform’d slow creeping Beast call’d _Ai_, whose Head is
like a Mans, and cover’d with rough and grey Hair, on each Foot three
Claws close together, and at least a Finger long, sharp Teeth, a smooth
high black Nose, little drowsie Eyes, no Ears, a Tail small above and
broad at the bottom, long Ash-colour’d Hair over all the Body; and being
about the bigness of a Fox, it climbs slowly up the Trees, and comes not
down before it hath eaten off all the Leaves; it feeds also on Earth,
and sometimes sits on a high Bough without Meat twenty days together; it
goes so softly, that it will hardly clear fifty Paces in twenty four
hours.
On this Island are likewise all sorts of Apes and Monkies, amongst which
is one most remarkable, call’d _The Zimme Cayon_, hairy all over, with a
long white Beard, an old Mans Face, bald Ears, black Eyes and long Tail,
which they wind about a Bough, and so hanging, swing themselves from one
Tree to another; they are very fierce as well as subtile, for being
wounded with an Arrow, they set upon their Enemy without the least fear;
when they climb up the Trees, they carry their Mouths and Hands full of
Stones to throw at Travellers; and if any one of them chance to be
wounded, all the rest that are near come to help him, and stop the Wound
with Leaves, and the like; the young ones hang upon the Backs of their
Dams, who run very swift with them, and leap from one Tree to another.
[Illustration]
_Juan Ardenois_ relates, That the _Coyons_ play at certain Games with
the Natives for Money, and spend what they win in publick Houses.
_Joseph de Acosta_ tells us, That one of these kind of Creatures being
sent to a Tavern for Wine, would not part with his Money before his Pot
was fill’d, which he defended from the Boys that offer’d to take it from
him, by throwing Stones at them; and though it lov’d Wine very well, yet
brought it always home without tasting.
It is no less wonderful what _Peter Martyr_ relates of one of these
Creatures, _viz._ That observing one ready to fire a Gun at him, before
he could discharge, it leap’d from the Tree and snatch’d up a Child,
which he held as a Buckler before him.
[Sidenote: The _Sagovin_.]
The _Sagovin_ resembles a Lyon in the fore-part of the Body, with shaggy
Hair; they are exceeding dainty and tender, yet so stubborn and sullen,
that they take pet at the least affront, and often pine themselves away
and die with hunger.
[Sidenote: The _Boyete_, and other sorts of Serpents.]
The Serpent _Boy-ete_, two Fathoms long, without Legs, having a bright
speckled Skin and four sharp Teeth, wounds also mortally with its Tail;
but is the less dangerous, because at the end of the Tail grows a
Bladder, which moving rattles as if there were Pease in it, which gives
notice to the Traveller, though unwary, by which means he makes his
escape.
The other Serpents call’d _Jouboy_, _Tara-gouyboy_, and _Tarehuboy_,
serve the Natives for a great Delicacy; as also the great Toads or
Frogs, call’d _Tourourou_.
They have also a sort of Flies call’d _Ton_, which exceedingly molest
them, against which their chiefest Medicine is Palm-tree Oyl, and the
_Roucou_, with which they colour their Skins.
The Natives of this Island of _Maragnan_, driven out of the pleasant
Countrey _Cayete_ by the _Portuguese_, are a sort of the _Toupinambas_,
who Setled here about a hundred and fifty years ago. The time of their
first coming hither us’d formerly to be solemniz’d with the great Feast
call’d _Caoven_; but because a Woman boldly set upon a Commander in his
Cups, there arose a great Tumult amongst them, and ever since the Island
hath been divided, one Party calling the other _Tobaiares_, that is, _We
are Enemies_: They are so inveterate against one another, that who e’re
they take Prisoners they unmercifully devour: Both are of a middle
Stature, have flat Noses, which the Midwives make at the Birth of the
Child, they are generally a strong People, and many of them living a
hundred years, without being grey, bald, or sick; they live temperate,
and under a wholsom Climate: Some of their Women bear Children (as they
say) till they are eighty years of age, which being born white, turn to
be of a Tawny colour, by being anointed with Suet call’d _Roucon_, and
Oyl; otherwise they are well proportion’d. The Men pluck out all the
Hair of their Foreheads, but suffer it to hang pretty long over their
Ears, and behind. The Women let their Hair hang down to their Middle,
and wear woodden Ear-rings, but the Men hang green Beads in their Lips,
and thrust little Bones through their Noses. They go all stark naked,
their Legs are colour’d black with the Juice of the Herb _Junipap_, and
upon the other parts of their Body appear Figures of several
Representations. Those that will manifest their Valor, and be accounted
hardy, gash their Bodies all over with Wounds, which they heal in such a
manner, that the Scars may more plainly appear. They never come to their
usual Feasts, but dress’d up in various colour’d Feathers; upon the
Crown of their Heads they wear Caps stuck with Plumes, which they call
_Acangoap_, or Coronets, call’d _Acangerar_; about their Necks, the
Necklaces _Aiouacava_; over their Shoulders, the Mantles _Assoyave_;
their Garters they call _Tabacoura_, at which they hang hollow Nutshells
full of little Stones, which gingle and rattle as they go, and about
their Arms Armlets call’d _Mapouyh-couaychovare_; all which are
curiously checker’d with various colour’d Feathers.
The _Maragnans_ live not much up in the Countrey, but rather on the
Sea-Coast, because of their Fishing, removing every sixth year, calling
the Village where they Settle, by the former Name.
They take every Man as many Wives as he pleaseth, but the Women must
stick each to one Man, unless she be Divorc’d from him, which often
happens upon small occasions.
Their Cotton Hammocks call’d _Yu_, on which they sleep, hang between two
Stakes, in which they lie.
Singular Friends and Relations Feast one another daily; but they are
cruel and revengeful against their neighboring Enemies, whom, when they
take any of them, they fatten, kill, and eat. The least affront done
them, or injurious word spoken to them, or against their Predecessors,
makes them take up Arms, which consist of Bowes and Arrows, which they
call _Ouyrapar_ and _Oune_.
Here the _French_ have built the Fort _St. Lovis_ on an Island, from
whence Westward may be seen the Cape _Tapouytapere_, which at High-water
seems like an Island, and lies four Leagues from thence; at Low-water
they can walk over the Sands from the same to the Main Land.
This fruitful Countrey hath twenty populous Villages.
Westward lies _Comma_, which gives Denomination to the chief Village,
the River, and the rest of that Countrey, wherein are sixteen more
handsom Villages, better built, and more populous than _Maragnan_ or
_Tapouytapere_.
Concerning the building of the fore-mention’d Fort on _Maragnan_, it
hapned as followeth:
[Sidenote: The occasion of building the Fort _Maragnan_.]
[Sidenote: A Colony of _French_ sent over into the Island of
_Maragnan_.]
[Sidenote: Driven out by the _Portuguese_.]
[Illustration: I TAMARACA]
[Illustration: FL VIUS GRANDIS]
[Illustration: SIARA]
The _French_ Captain _Riffaut_, upon the Advice of _Ouyrapive_, who bore
a great sway amongst his _Maragnan_ Subjects, fitted out three Ships;
but because of a Contention between the Sea-men, and the loss of his
chiefest Vessel, he was forc’d to Sail to _France_, and leave some of
his Men on _Maragnan_, under the Command of a young Gentleman call’d _De
Vaux_, who carry’d himself so discreetly amongst the Islanders, that
they promis’d to embrace the _Christian_ Religion, if new Supplies came
from _France_ to assist them against their Enemies; of which _De Vaux_
advis’d the _French_ King _Henry_ the Fourth, who approv’d of it, and
sent Monsieur _De la Ravardiere_ to _Maragnan_, to make a farther
Enquiry into the whole Matter, where he spent six Moneths; after which
returning he found the King murder’d, wherefore the Business lay dead
for a while; but at length _Ravardiere_ took with him the Lord
_Rosilly_, and the Baron of _Sansi_, desiring some _Capuchins_ of the
Queen-Mother, for the promulgating of the _Christian_ Religion in
_Maragnan_; which being granted, they set Sail with three Ships _Anno
1612._ with which arriving safely there, and Landing, he built next the
chiefest Haven the Fort _St. Lewis_ on a Hill, by whose foot two Rivers
glide into the Ocean. After which this new Plantation went on for a
considerable time, till the _Portuguese_ overpowering them, drove them
out of this their new Field, making themselves absolute Masters of the
Fort, and also of the great Mountain _Ibouyapap_, four Leagues high,
plain on the top, twenty four Leagues long, and little less in breadth.
No Champain under the Sun is more pleasant and fruitful than this; for
in some places it is shaded with Trees, in others hath brave Pastures,
lies under a wholsom Climate, and abounds with fresh Springs, from
whence are deriv’d store of Brooks, and Rivulets full of Fish.
SECT. XI.
The Lordships Tamarica, Rio Grande, Siara, and Para.
[Sidenote: Description of the Lordship of _Tamarica_.]
The _Præfecture_ of _Tamarica_, not above three Leagues in length and
two in breadth, so call’d from a little Island lying before it, and part
of its Precinct, is counted the first, that is, the most ancient
Lordship of _Brasile_, having otherwise nothing in it that is very
considerable, save onely a good Haven or Port, with a Castle for the
Security or Command of it, held to be impregnable, and so found by the
_Dutch_, who under _Peter Heyn_ and _Stein Callenfels_ in vain attempted
the taking of it, as shall be mention’d hereafter more particularly, but
made it useless to the _Portuguese_, by making a Bulwark at the Mouth of
the Haven, and so blocking it up.
This _Capatania_ yielded formerly a Rent of thirty thousand _Ducats_ to
the Earls of _Montesanto_, whose Right it was.
[Sidenote: Description of the Lordship of _Rio Grande_.]
The _Præfecture_ of _Rio Grande_, a small Precinct, so denominated, as
lying on the South-side of that great River which the _Portuguese_ call
_Rio Grande_, and the Natives _Potingi_, where it falls into the Sea,
was once possess’d by the _French_ about the Year 1597. who were outed
by the _Portuguese_, and the Place fortifi’d both against them and the
Salvages, (of whom they slew and took Prisoners very great numbers) with
a Castle, which the _Dutch_ in the Year 1631. found an impregnable
piece, and too hard for them to take.
[Sidenote: Description of the Lordship of _Siara_.]
The _Præfecture_ of _Siara_, so denominated from the Haven; it hath long
been in the possession of the _Portuguese_, but they have therein no
Towns of note, onely a Castle, and some few Houses for those that attend
the gathering of Cotton-Wool, and Manuring of the Sugar-Canes, which are
here in great abundance, also the Countrey is said to afford some
Crystal and other Precious Stones.
[Sidenote: Description of the Lordship of _Para_.]
Lastly, the _Præfecture_ of _Para_ is the most Northerly part of
_Brasile_, bordering upon _Guiana_, so call’d from the River _Para_,
which runneth through the midst of it, upon which, in a convenient
place, and upon rais’d Ground, the _Portuguese_ have built a very strong
Castle, well Wall’d on all sides, save onely towards the River, where it
is planted with Ordnance: It is built in a quadrangular form, and hath
at least three hundred Persons of the _Portuguese_ Nation (besides the
Garrison Soldiers) belonging to it, who have all Employment enough about
the Cotton-Wool, Sugar-Canes, and Tobacco, which the Countrey is said to
afford in great plenty.
_A Relation of the Proceedings of the_ Netherland West-India _Company
in_ Brasile _to the Year 1658_.
The chief Disturbers of the _Portuguese_ in the possession of the
Countrey of _Brasile_, were the _United Netherlanders_; for they having
had good success with their first Fleet, under the Command of _John
Molenaer_, _John Dignumszoon_, _John Schelinger_, _Simon Mau_, and the
Merchants _Cornelis Woodman_, _Gerard Beveningen_, and _Heinier van
Hel_, Anno 1595. in the _East-Indies_, where they got such footing, that
they took whole Kingdoms, to the great enriching of the Eastern World,
where they spread their Trade over the whole Countrey, were thereupon
emboldned to venture also to the West, that thereby they might cut off
the Sinews of the King of _Spain_’s Wars, he being continually supply’d
with Treasures from _America_.
[Sidenote: A _West-India_ Company erected by the _United States_.]
[Sidenote: _St. Salvador_ set upon by the _Dutch_ under _Peterszoon_ and
_Willekens_.]
[Sidenote: _St. Salvador_ taken by the _Dutch_.]