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.
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.
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.
A West-India Company erected by the United States.
St. Salvador set upon by the Dutch under Peterszoon and Willekens.