The Brasilian Women and Children usually go to Wars with their Husbands and Fathers.
The Brasilian Slaves were some years since bought of the Tapuyans, or made Slaves, because they assisted Boudewyn Henrickszoon, when he Landed in the Inlet Traluson; but they have since obtain’d their Freedom of the Portuguese. The Angolan Slaves can undergo greater Labor than any other.
The Brasile Wood grows generally ten or twelve Leagues up in the Countrey from the Sea, not in particular Woods, but amongst other Trees.
The Negro’s, when the Sugar-Mills work not, are employ’d in pulling off the white Bark, three Fingers thick, from the Tree, which bears dark-green Leaves, small and prickly at the ends, and hanging on thin Stalks, but bearing neither Blossoms nor Fruit.
Osnabrig Linnen is highly esteem’d amongst the Brasilians, as also colour’d Wax, Copper, Tin, Wine, Beer, Butter, Cheese, Meal, Stock-fish, Pork, Hung-beef, and Gammons of Bacon.
The Papists Teach and observe their Religion in publick, their Spiritual Men being divided into Priests and Monks; the Monks consist of Franciscans, Carmelites, and Benedictines; the Franciscans being the most eminent, possess six fair Cloysters, besides which they have neither Land nor other Revenues, but live on what is given them daily; their Cloysters stand in Frederick-stadt, Iguaraca, Olinda, Pojuca, Serinhain, and Antonio Vaes. But the Carmelites have three Structures at Parayba, and as many more in Frederick-stadt and Olinda, where they live plentifully on what they reap from Tillage, Rents of Houses, and Legacies of deceased Persons. The Benedictins, though they possess onely two Cloysters, one in Frederick-stadt, and the other at Olinda, yet they have the greatest Income from the Sugar-Mills of Muserapa, and the Countrey about Parayba, as also Cattel and Cane-Fields.
Reciffa, the Seat of War, hath two Horn-works towards Olinda; the first rais’d with Stone, defends the Haven with seven Brass Demi-Culverins; the other lies opposite to the River Biberi, and hath five Brass and two Iron Guns. Reciffa also hath a strong Rail about it, and many Guns plac’d in good order. Near the Powder-house stand two Batteries with Guns.
On the Shore towards Olinda, lies the Stone Castle St. Joris, on a Hill opposite to the Haven, fortifi’d with a Bulwark and thirteen Iron Guns.
The Water-Castle, built round, rises out of the Sea, and stands at the end of the Stone Cliff, which makes an Inlet, through which the Ships Sail that come to, and go from Reciffa.
The Fort Bruine hath four Points, seven Brass Guns, and Pallisados round about.