Ambassadors sent to consult with him about carrying on their Designs.
Not long after were dispatch’d from thence the Councellors Jacob Stackhower, and Colonel Arcisseusky, with the Interpreter Antonio Parapoavo, to Treat with Janduy about the Design which they had upon the Portuguese, and also what Advantages he should receive, if he would assist the West-India Company with his Forces, whenever he should be sent to.
His Power, Enemies, and Allies.
King Janduy bore Command over sixteen hundred Men, whose Wives carry’d their Hammocks after them to sleep on in the Night, having no setled Habitations, but ranging in Parties up and down from place to place to get their Food; the young People went commonly along with Beretiawa, and the old with Janduy; round about whose Countrey dwelt the poor Natives Aciki, as also Juckerijou, Ocioneciou, Pajoke, and Aponorijou: the first are Commanded by King Coctaculy; the second, by Marakou, a Friend of the Portugueses; the third, by Nonhu; the fourth, by Kidoa; and the last, by Jarepo: which two last are no way inferior in Power to Janduy, but the others much weaker.
Four sorts of People continually Warr’d against Janduy, viz. the Jenho, who live so far up in the Countrey, that no Christians ever came to the knowledge of them; the other three are the Woyana, Carivy, and Caririwassu, who assist the Portuguese.
The fore-mention’d Interpreter Parapoavo was met in his Journey by a Company of Tapuyans, led by Commendaoura, Janduy’s Sisters Son, who was to succeed him after his death, according to the Custom of the Tapuyans, whose Sons do not succeed their Fathers in the Throne, but their Sisters Sons. Commendaoura told him, That he was impower’d by his Uncle to Treat with the Hollanders; to which purpose coming with forty Men before the Castle Ceulen, he inform’d them, That Jandouy could not come to them with his whole Power, because there was no fresh Water in the Mountains Mitiapa in the Summer; Moreover, that he Mourn’d for his deceased Wife. Janduoy was also requested to go to Parayba, where he should get great store of Booty, and that the Hollanders would follow them with a considerable Power.
The Fort Conayou taken by Arcisseusky.
Arcisseusky being inform’d of the Condition of Conayou by two, who having been taken Prisoners by the Portuguese, leap’d over-board from a Carvel, bound from thence to Portugal, and swam ashore, march’d from the Fort Ceulen in the Night with two hundred Men, besides forty Tapuyans, who kill’d more Venison for the Hollanders than they were able to eat; and coming within two Cannons-shot of Conayou, he divided his Men into four Parties, that so they might Storm the four Corners of the Fort at once; which having done by swimming over the Moat, and climbing up the Walls, which were a Pikes length, they got into the Fort, in which they found eleven dead Bodies, ten Iron Guns, two Hooks, and several Chests of Sugar; and amongst other Prisoners they took the Captain Alvares Fragoso d’ Albuquerque.
Stackhower also setting Sail when Arcisseusky left the Castle Ceulen, intending to meet him again at an appointed time before Conayou, was kept back by contrary Winds.
After this Arcisseusky set Sail to Mongoangape, where Rowing up the River, he took a Ketch with two hundred Chests of Sugar, as also a Carvel and a Boat, and Landed where the River bends about a Mountain, which so affrighted the Portuguese, that they quitted Antonio Marino’s Sugar-Mills. Soon after the Fleet took a Barque with Wine, and return’d to Reciffa.