The chief Town of this Island is call’d Villa de Conception near the Sea, which round about the Island is full of Rocks. The French settling themselves here at first, were driven from thence by the Portuguese. The Town it self, built on a Rock, hath a strong Castle on the one side, erected near a shrubby Moor; to the Northward of which Stein Callenfels found a little Isle, scarce a Musquet-shot long, which at High-water is overflown, and being full of small Trees makes a Receptacle for Sea-Fowl, which flock thither about six a Clock in the Evening to Roost on the Boughs, from which, when once setled to take their repose, they will not stir till six of the Clock the next Morning, though you discharge Guns at them all Night; but since Stein Callenfels cut down the Wood to make Pallisado’s for the new Fort against the Town Conception, they were never seen afterwards.
Sect. IX.
Parayba.
Description of Parayba.
Northward from Itamaraca borders the County of Parayba, whence the French Ships carry’d yearly several Ladings of Brasile Wood, till Anno 1585. the Portuguese General Martin Leytam drove them from all places, since when they never recover’d any part thereof.
This Territory of Parayba borrows its Denomination from the chief Town, lying five Leagues from the North Sea near the River Parayba, which in the Summer Season hath but little Water, but in the Winter Season increases to that heighth, that it oftentimes on a sudden overflowing the Countrey sweeps away both People, Cattel, and Houses. The City it self, though small, yet hath several fair Buildings, amongst which three Churches and as many Cloysters, inhabited by Franciscans, Carmelites, and Benedictins, are none of the meanest. The Countrey thereabouts indifferently fruitful, hath twenty Sugar-Mills. The Mountain Cupaguao, formerly very populous with Natives, being exceeding fertile, produces all manner of Fruit; at present it lies desolate, the Brasilians being all destroy’d by the Portuguese. These Mountains produce also curious green Stones, which the Inhabitants wore in their Lips for an Ornament, and which also cures the Griping of the Guts, by being laid upon the Belly.
The Silver-Mine Copaoba.
The French under the Command of Captain Dourmigas, discover’d ninety years ago the Silver-Mine Copaoba, and for considerable time carry’d Silver and Brasile Wood from hence, till the Portuguese made themselves absolute Masters.
Moreover, on the North-side of Parayba, the Salvages call’d Petiguars inhabit sixteen Villages.
Strange Birds.