Soon after a Brasilian that had pass’d by Albuquerque’s Army to Olinda, brought Information, That he was sent by Jandui and Oquenou, two Kings belonging to the Tapuyans, to enquire if the Topatingas (for so they call’d the Netherlanders that belong’d to the West-India Company) did yet reside in Pernambuco, with Proffers to assist them with their Forces. Moreover, he inform’d them, That since his departure from Boudewyn Henrickszoon, a great many of the Tapuyans Petivares were kill’d by the Portuguese near the River Grande and Inlet Trajiciaon, because they had assisted Henrickszoon, who had left them helpless at his departure. He added also, That if the West-India Company would give the other Brasilians any assurance to assist the Tapuyans, it would be necessary to Consult about it near the River Grande.
This Proposal was found to be of so weighty a Concern, that Ellert Smient being sent with the Ship call’d The New Netherland, and a great Sloop, to Siara, to make farther enquiry into the Business, was accompanied by a Renegado Portuguese call’d Samuel Cochin, and several Brasilians (whom Henrickszoon upon their Request carry’d with him from the Inlet Trajiciaon to Holland) who went, under pretence of visiting their Relations at the River Grande and Siara, to invite their Countrey-men to joyn with the Netherlanders.
Olinda deserted and demolish’d by the Hollanders.
During Smient’s absence many Consultations were held about the demolishing or defending of the City Olinda, about which there had formerly been many Contests; but at last the Voices carry’d it, which were for the demolishing thereof, in regard it was of little Consequence; and could not be kept without many Men and great Charges, because of its bad Situation, whenas their Men might do greater Service in other places: Wherefore they began to carry all things necessary from Olinda to Reciffa, and on the twenty fourth of November the City was set on fire with Barrels of Pitch and Tar, being in a light flame at every corner, whilest Stein Callenfels drew off the Garrison in good order to Reciffa; and immediately sixteen hundred Men under his Command were put aboard of sixteen Vessels, with intention to go to Parayba; but the Enemy having a fortnight before had notice of this Design, had fortifi’d himself all along the River. Callenfels approaching, espy’d twelve Portuguese Standards, and the Men ready on the Breast-works to prevent his Landing; yet nevertheless he not regarding their Bullets, press’d in amongst them, and forc’d the Enemy from his Works.
Near the Water stood a Stone Castle, and on one side of it a large Store-house; on the Mountain near the City appear’d the Franciscan Cloyster; the Fort rais’d of Earth had four Bulwarks, and twenty six Guns, according to the Information of the Eye-witnesses Drevis and Berster, who were sent thither as Spies.
Callenfels attempts to take the City, but without success.
Callenfels Landed not so carefully but that he lost forty Men, either kill’d from behind the Breastworks, or out of a neighboring Wood. Being inform’d by a Portuguese Prisoner, of the ill Condition of the Town, and how slenderly it was provided, he immediately rais’d a Sconce, two Watch-houses, and a Pallisado, from which he fir’d with two Guns on the Castle, and made several Trenches; but the Besieged were stronger in People and Guns than the Besiegers, who being scarce able, by reason of their small number, to keep Guards in all places, were also tir’d out under a hot Climate, and fainted for want of Provisions, insomuch that in two days there dy’d and fell sick above two hundred; wherefore Callenfels judg’d it best to draw off in time; which that they might do securely, they made a Redoubt, and the six Companies Commanded by the Captains Redincheven, Meppelen, Cloppenburg, Schenk, Byma, and Cook, resolv’d upon a desperate Attempt, as followeth: Marching privately through a Wood behind the Enemy’s Works, they fell in at one side upon the Portuguese Trenches, from whence they drove them after a small resistance, and forc’d them to flie towards the Fort, whither they were pursu’d with such eagerness, that those who were in the Fort, lest the Hollanders might get in with them, lock’d up the Avenues against their own Men; at which they were so amaz’d, that some of them climb’d up by the Walls of the Fort, but were either kill’d by the Assailants, or knock’d on the Head by their own People, because several Hollanders went to climb up amongst the Portuguese; the rest running about the Fort, fell into the midst of the Netherlanders, where they were all cut off, being in number above a hundred. The Hollanders also in this resolute Design, had about twenty Men kill’d, and fifty wounded; after which they put lighted Matches on Sticks in their Enemy’s Works, as if they had never made any Attempt on the City Parayba.
Whilest this Expedition fell out so unfortunately, Smient performing his Voyage, found in the Inlet Trajiciaon a Portuguese Vessel hal’d near the Shore under the protection of two Pallisado’s; wherefore supposing it best not to make any Attempt on the same, he ran to an Anchor before Ubranduba, twenty Leagues below the River Grande; where the Natives Marcial, Tacou, Ararova, and Matauwe, who had been in Holland, Landing, went to see, and speak with their Countrey-men to joyn with the Netherland West-India Company: and some days after the Seamen Landing again in the same place, met with Tacou, together with eight more stout Men, and seventeen Women and Children, who carry’d a slain Portuguese call’d Juan Perera, to the River Grande, about whom they had found Letters containing the whole Condition of Siara; which the Brasilians imparting to Smient, he sent a Ketch thither before, and follow’d after himself; they Steer’d along the Shore beyond the Shelves Guamare, by the Mountains Sailinas and Porto de Mel, the Haven De Onces, and River Juaguarive, to the White Point, where the Brasilians Landing spake with their People, and towards the Evening brought good tydings, and desir’d that they might be Landed at Siara, where they would put their Design in practice: Smient following their Advice, receiv’d them aboard the New Netherland, and Sail’d along by the square Fort Siara towards a smooth Shore on each side, hedg’d in by thick Woods, where the Brasilians intended to Land; but the Portuguese, and Brasilians belonging to their Party, being gotten into the Wood before, fir’d so vehemently, that they were forc’d to Retreat, and Sail five Leagues farther beyond the Cape Opese, made dangerous by the many blind Cliffs that lie about the same. Smient anchoring here, Landed the Brasilians, on promise that they would return in two days; but the Seamen seeing sometimes ten, sometimes fifteen Arm’d Portugueses ashore, judg’d that the Brasilians had been slain by them, and therefore weighed Anchor to the great dislike of the West-India Company.
Since this unsuccessful Design on Parayba, the Council at Reciffa were no whit discourag’d, but resolv’d to make an Attempt on the River Grande with twelve Ships and two Sloops, carrying ten Companies of Soldiers, besides Seamen; but by reason of the difficulty of Landing (because the Coast being very Rocky, makes the Sea go very hollow), the strength of the Place, both in respect of its Fortification and number of Defendants, and the joyning of the Brasilians with them, they were forc’d to return without effecting their Design.
The Expedition of Nekker, Houte-been, and others.