ower and colonization extends, the popish religion is
established; but vast numbers of the indigenous natives of the country
remain unsubdued, and continue their original idolatry, being of such
cruel and vindictive dispositions, that when a Christian falls into
their hands, the best thing that can happen to him is to have his
throat cut, as they are, for the most part, put to death by means
of cruel tortures. The air of the country, though excessively hot at
certain times of the year, is extremely wholesome, as we experienced
by our speedy recovery from the scurvy and other distempers. About
St Sebastian there are vast quantities of venomous musquetoes, which
sting to such a degree that we were all covered over with blisters.
Our pilot, having drank too freely of the country rum, and afterwards
fallen asleep in the open air, had his head, face, arms, and legs so
severely stung, that his life was in imminent danger, and he recovered
after a long time, not without much care.

[Footnote 5: There are animals of the tyger kind in Brazil and
other parts of America, and the Jaguar, Owza, or Brazilian tyger, is
probably the one here meant. No elephants exist in America, and
their teeth, mentioned in the text, must have come from some of the
Portuguese African possessions.--E.]

While here, the commodore kept up a very strict discipline over his
people; and some of his sailors being complained against as having
maltreated some Indian women, he caused them to be severely punished,
and would never afterwards allow them to go on shore. The Dutch and
Portuguese agreed extremely well, but the governor was far from being
pleased with his visitors, more especially because he had learnt from
some of the deserters that the object of the expedition was to make
discoveries in the south. For this reason he practised every art he
could devise to hinder and distress them, and furnished them with
provisions only from day to day, that they might not increase their
sea-stores. He also frequently talked of there being five or six
Portuguese men-of-war in Rio de Janeiro, in order to put the Dutch in
fear of being attacked, and actually sent for the only ship that
was there at the time, to come to St Sebastian. Roggewein perfectly
understood the meaning of all this, of which he took no notice, and
complied exactly with the terms of the agreement entered into with the
deputy governor, saving part of the fresh provisions daily and salting
them, cl