In the year 1803 the King of Spain issued a decree constituting the country lying between the _Paraná_ and the _Uruguay_, which included all the missions, a separate province, which was called _Misiones_, of which Velasco was appointed governor. In 1805, the same officer was appointed governor of _Paraguay_, another of the same name being instructed by him as his lieutenant in _Misiones_. CHAPTER XVII. _BRAZIL IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY; ARRIVAL OF THE BRAGANZAS._ 1776-1806. [Sidenote: 1776.] In tracing the course of the progress of _Brazil_ it should be mentioned that in the year 1776 the fort of _Nova Coïmbra_ was founded on the Upper _Paraguay_, in the province of _Matto-Grosso_, as a protection against the formidable tribe of the _Guaycurús_, which people, it is estimated, inflicted upon the Portuguese the loss of four thousand lives and three millions of _cruzados_. It should also be mentioned that about the same time the Academy of Sciences and Natural History was founded at _Rio de Janeiro_. One of the first meetings of this body was made remarkable by the statement of an army surgeon who had served in the war of the Seven Reductions, that a Spaniard who had been in _Mexico_ had pointed out to him the _cochineal_ upon several varieties of the cactus in _Rio Grande_. It was found soon afterwards in the island of _S. Catherine_, and plants with the insects were brought to the botanic garden of the Academy. [Sidenote: 1777.] The attention of the Brazilian Government was, however, soon turned from this discovery to cares of a different description. _Don_ Joseph Moniño, subsequently Count Florida Blanca, had recently been appointed Minister of Spain; and he sought the opportunity of distinguishing his administration in the pending disputes with Portugal concerning the limits of _Brazil_. He was urged on by Zeballos, now appointed the first Viceroy of _La Plata_ and sent thither with a force of nine thousand men, with twelve ships of war and a transport. The first object of the expedition, which reached the coast of _Brazil_ in February 1777, was the possession of _Sta. Catherina_, an island about thirty-six miles in length and from four to ten in breadth. The Portuguese had several times endeavoured to establish themselves on this island, but in vain. They, however, considered it as belonging to _Brazil_; and at length some families were transported thither from the _Azores_. At the date of the expedition it was defended by a fort and garrison, represented by the Spaniards as strong and numerous.