So well had Nobrega’s system been followed by his successors that, in the course of half a century, all the natives along the coast of _Brazil_, where Portuguese settlements extended, were collected in villages under their superintendence; whilst, on the other hand, so successfully had the slave-hunters practised their arts in setting one tribe of natives against another that the number of the latter was very greatly reduced. It thus happened that both missionaries and slave-hunters had now to penetrate much farther into the interior than heretofore, in search either of converts or of captives; and in this way fresh portions of the vast territory were from time to time discovered. About the year 1594, Rifault, a French adventurer, who had previously visited the coast of _Brazil_, returned to that country with three vessels, one of which he lost near _Maranham_, on which island he took refuge. Having returned to Europe, his people were now headed by the _Sieur des_ Vaux, who persuaded the islanders to own the rule of the French. With this concession he too returned to France, and submitted to Henri IV. a project for taking possession of the considerable island of _Maranham_. The king listened with satisfaction, and sent back Des Vaux, accompanied by a commissioner of rank, by whose report he was to be guided; but before the report could be made Henri had been assassinated. [Sidenote: 1612.] Permission was, however, granted to form a company for the purpose of colonizing _Maranham_, and certain gentlemen were appointed lieutenants-general in the _West Indies_ and _Brazil_. The expedition was fitted out in Brittany, and sailed in March 1612; and, after a severe voyage, it reached the island of _Fernando Noronha_, whence it proceeded to _Maranham_. The islanders put themselves, as had been expected, under the protection of France, and their example was followed by two tribes on the mainland. The Cross and the French flag were planted side by side. Unfortunately, however, for the French, the Brazilian Government had just at this time turned its attention in the same direction; and before any tidings of the above proceedings had reached Madrid, orders had been sent out to prosecute the discovery and conquest of the river _Amazons_ and the adjoining regions. The governor was ordered to fix his residence at _Olinda_ in order to push on the expedition, to the command of which Geronymo de Albuquerque was appointed. He was later joined by Compos Moreno. Their progress, however, was slow, and in due time they came into collision with the French, of whose presence in that region the Brazilian authorities now for the first time became aware. It so happened that the officer who made the discovery was prevented by contrary winds from returning from _Maranham_ to _Pernambuco_. He was driven to the Spanish Main, whence he set sail for Spain. On his arrival there he immediately despatched his