Printed by C. Hullmandel.
A BRAZILIAN SIESTA, OR AFTERNOON NAP.
CHAP. XVI.
PROVINCE OF SEREGIPE D’EL REY.
Colonization—Reduction of the Indians—Extent—Mountains—Rivers and Lakes—Mineralogy—Zoology—Phytology—Povoações.
The conquest and colonization of this province was commenced in the government of Christovam de Barros, deputy-governor of Bahia, in 1590, in consequence of orders which he received from King Philip II. at the request of the inhabitants between Rio Real and Itapicuru, who lived in a state of great inquietude, as well from the Indians of the country as the French pirates, who frequented the coast in search of Brazil wood. It was for a considerable period a district of Bahia.
After a century had elapsed, it began to have ouvidors about the year 1696, at which period its diminutive population, involved in anarchy by a faction of some of the leading persons, disregarded entirely the orders of the governor-general. The leaders were prosecuted; but they obtained pardon of their Sovereign, upon condition of subjecting the Tupinambazes of the country, who had always been a considerable obstacle to the augmentation of the colony. They succeeded in subjugating the Indians in part, and the rest were reduced afterwards by the exertions of the Jesuitical missionaries, and established in various aldeias. This province has nearly ninety miles of coast from the Rio Real, which divides it from that of Bahia, to the St. Francisco, which separates it from Pernambuco, and nearly one hundred and forty miles in width, terminating almost in an angle at the small river Xingo, about eight miles below the great fall of Paulo Affonso.
It may be considered as divided into two parts—eastern and western. The first, which is about forty miles in width, is commonly distinguished by the appellation of Mattas, in consequence of its extensive woods, which are, however, diminishing considerably from the axe of the cultivator of the sugar cane and cotton tree; and the western part, which is larger, has acquired the denomination of Agrestes, from the sterility of its soil, commonly stony, with few woods or fertile lands, and very deficient in water.
The Agrestes, if we except some portions, principally in the proximity of the river St. Francisco, even where there are only small aldeias, besides the town of Propiba, and the parish of St. Pedro, is almost generally uncultivated, affording only scanty pasturage for cattle, a great part of which perish from hunger and thirst when the winter season passes over without much rain, as in the summer season scarcely the smallest rivulet or perennial fount is met with. In the eastern part or Mattas, where the rains are more frequent, the soil is substantial and fertile, and the country presents a more agreeable aspect of woods and partially cultivated lands.
Mountains.—The face of this province is generally flat, and, although uneven, there is scarcely one small hill or mountain of any considerable elevation; that of Itabayanna is the only remarkable one between the Rio Real and the Vazabarris, and, although thirty miles from the coast, is discovered at a great distance from the sea. Upon its summit there is a lake that is never dry, and from this mountain, which is affirmed to be rich in gold, various pure streams descend, forming a handsome river.
In the western part is the Serra Negra, little higher than its surrounding plains, and the Serra Tabanga, whose base is bathed by the St. Francisco, with which it is prolonged.