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.
On Stone by C. Shoosmith from a Sketch by Jas. Henderson.
Printed by C. Hullmandel.