To turn to the north:--The Jesuits had indeed been once more admitted to _Maranham_, but merely to the performance of their spiritual functions. The slave-party and the clergy who sided with them had influence enough to cause the Jesuits to be deprived of temporal authority over the Indians, whilst their spiritual management was to be divided amongst the different orders. Vieyra was expressly prohibited from residing in the province. Slave-hunting again ran riot, and was even carried on under the auspices of the governor, under the disguise of missionary expeditions. The _Paulistas_ being at this time unable to pursue their attacks on the “Reductions” in _Paraguay_, in consequence of the latter being in a state of defence, turned their attention to the north, obliging the tribes upon the _Tocantins_ to apply to _Belem_ for protection. The officer sent for this purpose received from the _Paulista_ leader a reply stating that, if any one should oppose him in his plans, he would meet with armed resistance, upon which the officer thought it better to return to _Belem_. The proportions to which the slave-trade became developed, and the utter disregard which was paid to the restrictions on the subject, did not escape notice at Lisbon; and in the year 1680 some new edicts were promulgated on the subject. By one of these, governors were prohibited from engaging in trade, and from raising produce; nor were their servants to be permitted to do so. Another decree abolished Indian slavery, which experience had proved could not be modified or restricted by regulations, and the cruelties connected with which were so notorious. It was enacted that any person thenceforward transgressing this law should be sent home by the first vessel, thrown into prison, and proceeded against. The superintendence of the _Aldeas_, or Indian communities, should be again transferred to the Jesuits. These laws, it is needless to say, were most unpopular. It was represented that the term of labour of the free Indians in the _Aldeas_, which was to be restricted to two months at a time, was so short as to be useless; and the Chamber of _Belem_ sent a procurator to Lisbon to solicit an amendment of this law in particular, and to do his best to procure the repeal of the others. The Portuguese Ministry had granted to some merchants of Lisbon the exclusive privilege of trading with _Maranham_ and _Pará_ for a term of twenty years--a measure which was strongly resented by the inhabitants of _Belem_. Amongst the stipulations to which the contractors were bound was one requiring them to import five hundred negroes yearly; but during the first year no negroes were imported. Great discontent resulted both at _Belem_ and at _Maranham_. [Sidenote: 1684.]