nd the shot,
instead of reaching the people, only struck the quays, and did little
damage. The Brazilian soldiers now crowded to the wharfs, and thence
commenced so brisk a fire on the enemy, that the commander of the vessel
retreated hastily without killing a man, though he lost many. In this
action Dona Maria de Jesus distinguished herself; for the spirit of
patriotism had not confined itself to the men.[97]

[Note 97: Of her, see more in the Journal.]

The most considerable expedition sent by Madeira from Bahia was to the
Punto de Itaparica, the possession of which was becoming daily more
important, as the provisions in the town diminished. For this purpose
1500 men were embarked on board the Promtadao, and two other brigs of
war; they were to land half on one side and half on the other of the
little peninsula forming the Punto, on which there is a small fort and
town, which the troops were to attack while the brigs fired on the fort.
The passage from Bahia to this point is usually of six or seven hours at
most, allowing for a contrary wind; but these vessels were two days in
reaching it, by which time the Brazilians had thrown up heaps of sand;
behind which they lay concealed, and deliberately fired on the
Lusitanians as they passed, and committed great slaughter, without the
loss of a man, though they had several wounded. This action, if it may
be called so, took place on the 2d of January, 1823, and lasted from
noon till sunset.

Meantime the land side of the city had been harassed by continual
attacks, and the troops worn out with constant watching; for the
Brazilians were continually riding about in the woods, and beating
marches, and causing their trumpets to sound to charge in the night, and
by the time the enemy could reach the spot they were fled. On the 18th
of November, 1822, however, Madeira made a sortie, and was met by the
Brazilians at Piraja, between two and three leagues from the city, when
a severe action took place, with some loss on both sides, and both
claimed the victory; but as the Lusitanians retired to the town, and the
Brazilians took up new positions close to the city gates, the advantage
must undoubtedly have been on the side of the latter. Meantime the
scarcity of fresh provisions was such, that all the foreign merchants
who had families, and who could by any means remove, did so. All the
country-houses were abandoned, and the people crowded into the town. The
heaviest contributions we