Whilst the country had suffered severely from the Dutch invasion, the city of _Recife_, being the seat of government and of commerce, had thriven. Colonists were greatly wanted; more especially there was a constant demand for skilled labour,--three, four, and six _florins_ a day being given as wages to builders and carpenters. The Portuguese inhabitants of these provinces were held in subjection only by fear, with the exception of the Jews, who were excellent subjects. With the native Brazilians the Dutch had considerable trouble; whilst negroes were more scarce, and consequently more dear than before, some having followed their Portuguese masters in their emigration, and others having joined the black community at the _Palmares_. The military force of the Dutch amounted to rather more than six thousand men, and they reckoned on a thousand native auxiliaries; but all this force was required for garrisons. On the whole, the colony could scarcely be pronounced flourishing. Without supplies from Holland it could hardly furnish its own food, since so many cultivators had been driven away. All possessors of land were compelled under heavy penalties to devote a certain portion of it to the cultivation of mandioc. Count Nassau, who took a large-minded view of the future of his countrymen in _Brazil_, now set about building himself a palace, which he called _Friburg_, on an island near _Recife_; and to his gardens on this spot he transplanted seven hundred full-grown cocoa-trees, as well as lemons, citrons, and pomegranates. In order to relieve the crowded state of _Recife_, he proposed to build another city on this island; the marshy ground was soon drained by canals; streets were laid out, and houses rapidly arose in _Mauritias_, which was to be connected by a bridge with _Recife_. After the expenditure of a hundred thousand _florins_, the contractor gave up the attempt in despair; but what could not be effected by means of stone pillars was possible with the aid of wood, and in two months the bridge was completed by Count Maurice himself. On the success of this undertaking, Nassau next built another bridge over the _Capivaribi_; thus connecting _Recife_ with the opposite country through _Mauritias_. It is remarkable, if it be the case, as stated, that these should be the first bridges erected in a region so well watered as Portuguese America.