Rio Grande de Sao Pedro through the eyes of a Portuguese man: Domingos Jose Marques Fernandes (1804)

Abstract

In the 19th century, the Captaincy of Rio Grande de Sao Pedro was considered a desirable space in foreign travelers records and chronicles, with interesting observations. This is the case of Domingos Jose Marques Fernandes, born in Sao Salvador do Couto of Pedralva in Braga, Portugal, who, on September 10th, 1804, offered a "Chorographic, Political, Civic and Military description" of the Captaincy to John, Prince Regent of Portugal and Brazil, Algarves and its domains. His intention was to inform the sovereign about what he witnessed and recommend actions to promote and foster the gains of the Portuguese State. The document consists of 90 pages, divided into four chapters, addressing physical and human geography of the area, as well as its major villages. He then describes its economic potential, offering reasons to populate the Captaincy. The analysis of this lesser known document highlights its relevance to the knowledge of the extreme south after the Portuguese conquered the above-mentioned territory, which was later conquered by the Spaniards in 1801, and defined by the Treaty of Badajoz in the same year .