It was almost noon when the Rubber Dream, loaded with muskets, cannons, ammunition and powder crates, docked in a cove hidden among the thick mangroves of the Pernambuco coast.
The calm waters were dotted with twinkles, while the sounds of the nearby forest—the chirping of tropical birds and the buzzing of insects—formed a vibrant soundtrack.
The crew worked quickly, their gaze sometimes drawn to the dense jungle, where the foliage of the trees formed a dense and impressive canopy for the young mosses.
On board, Joao prepared the scouts for some of the techniques they had learned from Asia.
The Dutch, entrenched in their forts, had patrols that prowled near the coastal areas, and discretion was crucial.
A small boat was launched, carrying 6 crewmen selected for a reconnaissance mission.
They paddled slowly, their progress masked by the twigs of the mangroves and the damp scent of decaying leaves. The oppressive heat made the air heavy, and a rare breeze scarcely cooled their tense faces.
On dry land, the scouts advanced cautiously. The narrow, muddy paths meandered through dense shrubs and tree trunks covered with vines.
The spray of the ocean mingled with the shuffles of the palm trees of the region, which rose majestically, their leaves shaking slightly in the wind.
The men made their way through this natural labyrinth, sometimes stopping to listen, weighed down by their muskets and the provisions they carried.
After a few hours of walking, they arrived near a Portuguese outpost, camouflaged by trees and other vines as well as thorny bushes. A Portuguese sentry appeared, his musket pointed at the scouts.
One of them shouted and explained their mission:
"It's a few rounds of ammunition!! Is it for ammunition and gunpowder!!
Conducted to a Portuguese captain, they handed over a letter that Joao had given them and detailed the cargo of the merchant vessel. The news, greeted with a mixture of relief and determination.
The Portuguese captain immediately ordered an escort to be sent to secure the transfer of the weapons to the front.
Meanwhile, the boat set off back to the ship to prepare for unloading.
The unloading lasted for hours, and continued through the night.
Joao insisted that the voluntary support of Horizon Brazil be mentioned in their reports.
The men knew that these weapons, once in the hands of Portuguese troops, could mark a decisive turning point in the siege raging at Recife.
While waiting for reinforcements from Portugal, a priori led by a certain Pedro Jacques de Magalhães, the men led by Francisco Barreto de Meneses should be able to hold out. Joao thought.
As soon as I arrived, I was already sailing between the Dutch to smuggle weapons more or less against smuggling, for most of the crew it was a novelty, but for Joao, Luis, PIetro Rui and the others it was finally the return to less boring business, a simple little smuggling...
A short week sailing along the coast
Taking the climate of Brazil and its forests, its ledges, its cliffs, its novelties, the Brazilian dream began to arrive.
It had already been 6 years, the little Joao, aged 17, arrived as the leader of a band of 20 boys of his age in a fleet that had not yet elected him captain in Asia at the port of Goa. He told anyone who would listen that for him, the Far East was just a passing fad, Brazil would be his future, to which some replied: of course the trip to the west, at the time Joao did not know this story. but later he discovered her...
He often told them about his Brazilian dream, and to the whole crew at the same time.
____
Salvador do bahia, April 1653.
In a small wooden inn in Salvador de Bahia, the air is heavy with tropical heat and discreet murmurs.
The air lets in the breathe the scent of sugar, so rare in Lisboa, like a redundant foam of the waters of Brazil.
Joao and a few others enter and take their places around a wobbly table, carved with twisted wood, of a mediocre quality, despite the obvious care taken in its maintenance.
Their goal: to recruit connoisseurs of this Amazon jungle, find rubber trees and move them to establish a plantation.
The light of a lamp flickers, casting dancing shadows on the walls, while the deep voice of the merchant lays out the stakes of his own expedition.
Joaquim, a hard-eyed mercenary, remains silent at Joao's table. He plays absentmindedly with the blade of a knife, listening to the negotiators' conversation, his mere presence giving off an impression of quiet strength.
"So, we look for the trees that produce this," says Joao,
"Ha the rubber, the rubber trees... there has been more demand lately, especially there is a buyer in Lisboa"
"Yes, undeniably it's me, and now I want to make a plantation of these things, as part of my sesmaria"
"Aren't you going to plant sugar like the rest of the world? You prefer this rubber"
"Yes...., you have guys who can find me 150,000 trees?"
" hahahaha ... excellent joke sehnor"
" I am serious you know ? Do you want to work with me? Anyways I will need people to conduct the business here when I leave "
" I know that it comes from trees, the indegen use it a lot on a daily basis, but its second rate quality, what would a young boy use a land given with a sesmaria use those trees for ? "
" Do you wan to work for me ? " Joao said a little irritated internally by the reluctance of the guy
Joaquim could tell the difference, there is something different with this young guy and he said:
" We will work with you, i said, with you " surprising almost everyone around the table.
That guy who rarely, if not never, took part in the negotiations told directly that his group will work with their new employer.
After recruiting, traductors, combat mercenaries, and buying a bunch of slaves, males, females, and children, engaging a supervisor for the accountability.
For the slaves, Joao made "slaves contracts", each more than 15 years old would have to work for 20 years, learn potuguese, and some new religion beginning.
It male somaxhat a part of the people dissatisfied, but considering they will be far enough from salvador, they let it go.
The contract were made as such :
The slave have to recognize, real or not :
" I was slave in africa, and the company " Horizon brésil " Bought mewith gold, or silver, or others, to put me in a new environnement in brésil.
I volontarily accepted to work for them for twenty years as a gesture of goodwill and thanks, to learn what my ancestor did with their "work for" policy, while horizon brésil decided to grant me freedom and remuneration i refused, and opted to work for free for twenty years before activatingly work woith them after those years.
After those years, i should have learn portuguese, so that i can comprehend the text iI signed years ago, and some of the religious culture via their representative like the jésuistes and franciicains.
I hereby recognized that i was slave in africa, or any other colony where the Horizon Brazil company bought me from, and so in twenty years , i could obtien paymeent and freedom of choici in most of my endeavors.
I recognize I coprehends hat once the freedom date passed, I will not get provided clothes, nor food, nor medicaiotn sponsored by the company, like all settlers, that can only rely on their own work, and comminity support, family support, and for the work I'll do get a payment for my work"
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Contract of slavery and recognition and commitment
I admit that I was in a situation of slavery in Africa, before the company "Horizon Brazil" acquired me in exchange for resources such as gold, silver or other goods, in order to integrate me into a new environment in Brazil.
I acknowledge, having decided to work for the company, as a sign of gratitude and willingness to learn the "work for" practices of my ancestors.
I voluntarily agreed to work for this company for a period of twenty years without pay.
This commitment will allow me to immerse myself in their work with policy, as well as an obligation, with their support, to learn the Portuguese language as well as aspects of their religious culture, especially through the Jesuit and Franciscan representatives.
At the end of this period of twenty years, I recognize that I will be able to obtain my freedom as well as remuneration for my future work.
I also acknowledge that after this date, I will no longer receive clothing, food, or medical care provided by the company. Like any other settler, I will have to rely on my own work, the support of my community and/or my family to support myself.
" Name and Signature."
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Joao tought that they would become able to undertsand after a maximum of 5 years for the details, and basically that they will become free, after less than six months.
When the notaire asked if Joao was sure about these contracts, there was no hesitation, and he said yes. In twenty years, i will need them to buy clothes form my europeans factories etc ....
The notaire laghed a little, but the fact remains, that they will become freemen, and it was somewhat like a victory to the jésuistes and fransiscans about that.
While Joao and crew were more concerned about finding the trees in the forest, a promise of liberty did more than enough for that risky endeavor, even with professionnals explorers as their guides and protectors.
100 contracts like this one signed.
About 50,000 cruzados spend on these eslcaves.
The rest of the 200,000 cruzados were deposited at a depot in Salvador, together with the manager of the rubber tree plantation.
For the various expenses until the return of the representatives of the company Horizon brazil.
This sum had already been decided.
Obviously, these contents, displeased the sellers, but Joaquim's group found it funny, if they learn to read, or rather when they understand the contents, what will they think ?.
________
Early May 1653.
The team is preparing to explore, about 200 people, half of whom are armed or loaded with products of exchange with the natives, scharrettes, carpenters etc ...
The goal: to exchange ribber to the natives, and also the trees to stranfer it to the area of the sesmaria.
This area being quite far from the others, the crew thought of using part of the bottom to cross some areas outside the sesmaria appropriately called, in a sugar-growing area.
Numerous boats began to go up a river, the river that leads to the area of the sesmaria.
The dense jungule forest is impressive, but for some not much different from those found in India.
Obviously, those contracts, displeased the sellers, but Joaquim's group found it funny, if they learn to read, or rather when they undersatand the contents, what will they think ?.
_____
The team of 5 "directors" and a hundred explorers, with some "slaves " in the group
One of the Jesuist fathers has spent years among the indigenous tribes and knows their languages, customs and sensitivities. His presence is crucial: he will be the mediator between the explorers and the peoples of the jungle.
The botanist is also of crucial importance in order to learn and understand these famous trees as much as possible.
_____
The jungle stretched out like a dense, emerald-green sea, where every leaf seemed to whisper ancient secrets.
The gigantic trees, their twisted trunks covered in vines, formed a natural cathedral that almost entirely blocked the sunlight.
The rays, when they managed to filter through the ceiling of greenery, fell in golden beams, illuminating the particles of moisture suspended in the heavy and warm air to the sound of the calpotis of the oars working in the river.
The water, a deep brown, reflected in places the leaves that seemed to dance in the light winds.
On the banks, bright flowers sprang up like touches of paint among the dark foliage: purple orchids, red and yellow bromeliads, each more vibrant than the last.
The vegetation was so dense that sometimes a moving shadow would appear unexpectedly: perhaps a caiman gliding silently through the water or a jaguar, the invisible master of the place.
On the rowboats, everyone cautiously scrutinized these dark corners of the jungle where everything seemed possible, where every movement could hide an opportunity or a danger.
The smell was that of damp earth, enriched by the subtle scent of tropical plants and flowers.
At times, a breeze brought a more pungent scent, that of ripe fruit or decaying wood, a complex machine where life and death intertwine.
Suddenly men with strange weapons begin to be seen between the leaves and other vegetation.
The padre recognizes them.
The boat group reaches a place decided by the group of padre and other proselytes.
After negotiations, and negotiations in a way that was incomprehensible to most of them, the Padre announced:
"This tribe agrees to collaborate. They agree to plpacate their surplus of trees and to provide part of their rubber, they consider that the depacing of these trees, is an opportunity to visit your estate in order to go to more regular exchanges"
Rui summed up: "And what exactly do they want?"
"Tools mainly and also a few rolls of fabric"
"Interesting"
______
After having spotted the trees, it is decided that young shoots will be taken, the botanist stays with a small group of Jesuits and others among the natives who marvel at a few rolls of cloth, and a few machetes.
The boats are in charge of a first recovery of "rubber" which will be processed in Lisboa.
Now that a source of trees has already been found, the bad news spreads among the crew: most of the trees will not be "usable" for several years, the time to reach maturity.
According to the botanist, they are like most trees, they do not produce viable seeds before a certain age, but this rubber is an ingredient of their reproduction, in other words: to maintain the planting, part of the trees will have to be left to rest to make viable seeds that will have to be planted elsewhere.
In other words:! About 5000 trees will be immediately exploitable, according to the tribe's accounts, and the rest will be too young or almost old enough to produce rubber.
Another important element is that you should not cut the trunk, but only the bark.
In the end, it is a much less physically demanding job than the operation of sugar cane. But a need for precision for each gesture. For Joao it's like the activities of the crew of a boat.
Joaqum has left part of his team and returns to the place of the sesmaria
(By the way, a sesmaria is a land grant regulated by royal decrees) -
After some of the "indentured slaves" arrived, and another part of the crew arrived, the deforestation work began.
A vast area was transformed into a clearing in a few days.
A living area, a warehouse for valuable materials, such as axes, clothes and other tools, an area for food storage, another area for the storage of goods.
Many woods are recognized for their value, both for furniture manufacturing and shipbuilding. What became a full-time activity, spotting these trees, cutting them down and preparing them for departure to lisboa.
Carts went back and forth to Salvador where most of the wood was loaded into the holds of the "Rubber Dream"
In the end: the team found a fund manager, in collaboration with Joaquim and his troops. This place will become a starting point for exploration in the interior of the land for the more adventurous.
Thus, the first rubber plantation in the new world, in Brazil, began.
In addition, a portion was dedicated to the cultivation of sugar cane.
Joao and crtew isistont for the "slave contracts". The Jesuists and some Fransiscans set up a small wooden chapel on the estate to teach Portuguese to the slaves of the plantation and rhe bases of christianism, and also as a support for long-duration missions further inland.
With a working capital of about 90,000 cruzados, plus a hundred slaves, to start and develop the sesmaria, the steward of the sesmaria and Joaquim had enough to quietly develop the sesmaria.
_______
The "rubber dream" was loaded with tree trunks, rubber, and also raw sugar.
Before taking the way back, around August 1653.
The return journey was much longer than the almost overloaded outward journey.
On the way back, they came across a Portuguese fleet, probably the one intended to put an end to the siege of recife that had been going on for a few years already, the Dutch were going to be chased away.
The "rubber dream" only arrived in Lisboa in November, after a week's delay in the doldrums, a few swaying operations to avoid Dutch brigantines, and other Spanish vessels...
____
November 15, 1653
Surprisingly, less than a month on the way out, and almost three months on the way back. But when the time came to unload the boat at the port of Lisboa, there was no doubt as to the reason: the boat was completely overloaded, some even asked how a boat so loaded had not to sink.
And the answer was very simple: frequent stops, very frequent stops.
After paying the export taxes from Brazil to the governorate of Salvador, and the import tax from the port to Lisboa, the sugar was transferred directly to the small refinery that had just been finished a few weeks ago, and supplied by purchases at the port before being sold to the rest of Europe, and the molasses sold as poor man's sugar in the neighborhoods of Lisboa. or to shopkeepers for the small villages around.
The wood was sold to shipyards and carpentry shops for fairly substantial gains.
And the rubber became capes, sold cheaper to other merchants for re-export to other countries in Europe.
In all, 200,000 cruzados after tax and any management fees deducted from the prize for this expedition, including the 90,000 cruzados of investment for the sesmaria.
Enough to order new boats.
Of course, an overcrowded ship is dangerous, but the gains may be worth the risk.
In all, since the theft of the Spanish silver, the small group has become the owner of a sesmaria, a mansion, and a refinery, and around 200,000 cruzados, plus those that are deposits in various places that have not yet been spent, about 150,000 cruzados, which will be entirely spent on warships and transport.
That's about 3 brigantines, 2 other "rubber dream" class ships, with a little more firepower all the same.
Almost enough to arrive at the island of Santa Catarina and take possession of what the Spaniards have already installed.
In the end, even in a year, and already almost enough to carry out the project that Joao and crew gave themselves 10 years to achieve.