ABSTRACT
The Brazilian church lacked the immense wealth and influence of its counterpart in the Spanish Indies. The Portuguese crown first governed Brazil through donatories or lords proprietors who were given almost complete authority in their territories in return for assuming the responsibilities of colonization. Henry Koster, an astute observer of Brazilian life in the early nineteenth century, describes the political and financial administration of the important prooince of Pernambuco. The Capittles·mores, captains-major, are officers of considerable power. They have civil as well as military duties to perform, and ought to be appointed from among the planters of most wealth and individual weight in the several Termos, boundaries or districts. The Indians are punished for their offenses by their own magistrates, appointed by the Portuguese governors; the only chastisement consists in being put in the stocks for a day or two, as the magistrate considers best; they use no chains or other imprisonment.
