Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/244

 grauen on a rocke by the sea side; which are thought to haue beene there engrauen by one Martin Alonso de Souza, who was sent by the king Don Emanuel to discouer this coast. Therefore I thinke the Portugales haue reason for that which they alleage concerning the extension of the said coast of Brasil. Wherefore the king of Portugall gaue this land to diuerse of his gentlemen to inhabite. Most of the naturall inhabitants of this countrey are very rude, and goe starke naked both men and women, and are man-eaters: for which cause they make warres one against another to get men to eate: they are stout and good bow-men.

The first place inhabited on this coast beyonde the riuer of Marannon is called Fernambuck so named by the Indians, but in Portugall it is called Villa de Olinda.

Before you come to this place there is a port called Paraiua, vnto which port not many yeeres past the Frenchmen hearing of the troubles which were then in Portugall resorted, and built there a fort; whereunto certaine French ships made yeerely voyages to lade Brasill-wood.

But they of Fernambuck, with the helpe of the Spaniardes, went and burnt fiue French shippes within the port, and tooke the fort it selfe, and the Frenchmen that were there fled part into the mountaines, and part of them were slaine; so that since that time the Spaniardes haue inhabited there till this present.

Nowe to returne to Fernambuck inhabited by a Portugall Captaine called Duarte Coelio, it is the greatest towne in all the coast, and hath aboue three thousand houses in it, with seuentie Ingenios for sugar, and great store of Brasill-wood and abundance of cotton, yet are they in great want of victuals: for all their victuals come either from Portugall or from some places vpon the coast of Brasill. The harbour of this towne is a barred harbour, and fit onely for small barkes: this place belongeth as yet vnto the sonne of Duarte Coelio.

Beyond this towne lyeth the Cape of Sant Augustin, and next thereunto is the riuer of Sant Francisco, which is a great riuer. Betweene this riuer and Baya it is all a wildernesse inhabited with saluages, for whomsoeuer they take they kill and eate him.

The towne of Baha belongeth to the king, and therefore the gouernour of all the coast keepeth his residence in the same, as also the bishop. It containeth 1000