Near the River which washes the City Spirito Sancto, the Paraibes dwell in Huts, not unlike Ovens.
Sect. V.
Porto Seguro.
Description of Porto Seguro.
Next to the fore-mention’d County borders Porto Seguro, discover’d by Pedro Alvares Capralis, who gave this Countrey the Name of Terra de Santa Cruiz, but afterwards chang’d it to Porto Seguro, because he found a secure Harbor there. The Town, built on the top of a white Rock, gives its Denomination to the whole Countrey, and harbor’d long since two hundred and twenty Families, and hath five Sugar-Mills. The Land on the North side of the Rock rises high, but Southwardly a smooth Coast runs along the Ocean, from which two Leagues off at Sea lie several Cliffs, against which the Waves break with a great force.
The Towns Santa Cruiz and Amaro are left desolate, because the Portuguese were continually Invaded by the salvage Aymures, whom they were not able by any means to repress.
Southward from Porto Seguro appear the Shoals Abrolhos, twenty six Leagues from the Coast; they are of one breadth, but one is longer than the other.
Remakable Wreck of the Ship Batavia.
Corneliszoon: his villainous Attempt.
On this Coast the Ship Batavia was cast away Anno 1629. which Accident is the more remakable for the Murders committed by the Factor, Hieronymus Corneliszoon, who with some Confederates resolv’d to run away with the Ship, and to Sail to some Spanish Haven, or Dunkirk, and so to pillage the Netherland Vessels; but their Design was frustrated by the Ships running against the Abrolhos: Francis Pelsaert, chief Commander, first caus’d the Sick, with the Women and Children, to be put on an Island, or else on two Rocks about three Leagues distant from the place where the Ship lay, in which remain’d seventy Men, whom Pelsaert in vain endeavor’d to carry away; for the Sea was so rough that a Boat was not able to abide in the same, and also the Storm beginning to increase, beat the Ship more and more against the Sands, and the Seamen venturing towards the Isle on pieces of Timber, were some drown’d, others by the Waves, were driven ashore, amongst whom was Hieronymus Corneliszoon, who preserv’d his Life twenty four hours on the Boltsprit after the Ship was stav’d; but not terrifi’d with such an Accident, he continu’d in his fore-mention’d Resolution. On one of the Cliffs were forty Persons with eighty Cans of Water, but on the Island a hundred and eighty with much less; upon which Pelsaert, who when the Storm ceas’d, thought to save somewhat more out of his Wrack, was necessitated to seek for fresh Water on one of the said Cliffs, but not finding enough, trimm’d up his Boat and set Sail homeward, from thence to fetch a new supply of People: During which time Cornelisszoon perform’d his Vilany; for he chose David of Zeevang, Gysbrecht Welderen, Coenraed Huissen, Cornelis Pieterszoon, Rutger Frederickszoon, and Hans Heilwerk, for his Assistants, besides several others, and destroy’d all the People on the Island, except five, who escap’d on pieces of Timber to the Rock where Weyber Hays resided with forty Men, who being inform’d what the aforesaid Villains had done, prepar’d for resistance with sharp-pointed Sticks, those People on the second Rock being also slain by Zeevang, who spared onely some Women and seven Boys; after which Hieronymus Corneliszoon took Lucretia Jans for his Wife; in like manner Huissen took Judith Sebastiaens; the remaining Women serv’d the rest for Concubines. Not long after twenty of them going in Sloops, fell upon Weiber Hays, who valiantly resisted them: but because Hays’s Life was of great consequence, by reason he might give notice of their Actions to the Ship which was expected from Holland, and which they design’d to run away with, therefore they renew’d their Assault with fifteen Men more, and were again beat off; wherefore they resolv’d to make a Peace, which Hieronymus Corneliszoon promis’d to ratifie the next day; nevertheless this Peace was but feigned, for under pretence thereof they deliver’d Letters to several French Soldiers that were under Hays’s Command, promising each six thousand Guilders if they would joyn with them; but they shew’d the Letters to Hays, who keeping it secret, that he might draw on Hieronymus Corneliszoon, not mistrusting the Discovery, to come thither at the appointed time, took him Prisoner, and caus’d Zeevang, Huissen, Welderen, and Cornelis Pieterszoon to be put to death; but Wouter Loos making his escape, was chosen chief of the Rebels, who ventur’d a fourth Assault, but returning without any effect left off making any farther Attempt. Mean while Pelsaert arriving with the Sardam Frigat from Holland, sent a Boat ashore, which by a little Skiff dispatcht by Hays, was inform’d of all the Passages; whereupon the Boat returning, Pelsaert as he was putting himself into a posture of Defence, espy’d a Sloop coming about the Southern Point of the Island, in which were eleven of the Rebels clad in Scarlet with Silver Lace, which making directly towards the Ship, as soon as they came up, were commanded to throw away their Arms over-board; which having done, and coming aboard the Frigat, they were all put in Irons, as also their remaining Party, and condemn’d to die.