At this period Portugal was deprived by the Moors of the last remnant of her possessions on the Mediterranean. The inhabitants of _Mazagam_, who had defended their city in a manner not unworthy of their race, were transported to the province of _Pará_, where, in honour of their gallant defence, the name of _Mazagam_ was given to the place where they settled, on the western bank of the _Matuaca_, a tributary of the _Amazons_. These eighteen hundred colonists, though adding to the military strength of the empire, were but ill-fitted for purposes of colonizing. The situation chosen for their settlement was unfavourable, and many of them perished from the climate. Near this position a strong fort was erected at _Macapá_. In his desire to strengthen _Brazil_, the minister despatched many families from the Western Islands to be settled at _Macapá_ and _Mazagam_. He likewise did something to foment the trade of _Brazil_ by withdrawing the prohibition which had hitherto prevailed against single trading ships, apart from the annual fleet. As the Portuguese islands could not afford colonists in sufficient number to satisfy the aspirations of the minister, their complement was made up from the dregs of the mother country. But this measure was not followed by the good results for which no doubt its originator looked. Crime became so frequent in _Matto-Grosso_, _Minas Geraes_, and elsewhere, that orders had to be sent out from Portugal, compelling all persons without any settled abode to live in civilized communities, and to divide amongst them the surrounding lands. All persons who should evade this regulation, with the exception of three classes, were to be proceeded against as robbers,--the classes exempted from this rule being agriculturists with their slaves and servants on isolated farms; _rancheros_, or persons established on the public roads to facilitate communication or to entertain travellers; and _bandeiras_, that is to say, bands of respectable persons employed in making discoveries. The above three classes of citizens were empowered to arrest and imprison vagrants.