Pedro Teixeira - 1638: Return Journey

1638: Return Journey

Although the Spaniards of Peru afforded the Portuguese explorers every hospitality, they were nevertheless concerned to know how far the Portuguese had settled the Amazon. Based on the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494, and the strength of the expedition of Francisco de Orellana, the Spanish considered the Amazon theirs. Consequently, Teixeira and his party were detained several weeks in Quito whilst the Spanish authorities decided what to do. In the end it was decided to send a party of Jesuit priests, headed by Cristóbal de Acuña, to accompany the Portuguese on their return journey and report all they observed. Father Cristóbal was to present his report to the Royal Council of the Indies.

Father Cristobal's report was published as a book in 1641. In it, he gives a glowing account the Amazon regions and is especially complimentary towards the indigenous Brazilian natives and their way of life. The expedition itself appears to have been uneventful, apart from a disagreement between the Jesuits and the Portuguese officers over a proposed slaving expedition up the Rio Negro. Teixeira gave way to the Jesuits over the slaving issue and the expedition eventually reached Belém on 12 December 1639, just over two years after it had set out. Although Father Cristóbal urged Spain to lose no time in settling the Amazon, his advice came too late. In 1640, King João IV was proclaimed king of Portugal and, in 1641, the Portuguese of the colony of Brazil also recognized him as such.

Little is known about Pedro Teixeira apart from the Amazon expedition. After completing the expedition he went to São Luís do Maranhão to make his report to the governor. He was duly promoted to Capitão-Mor. He accepted the post of governor of Pará on 28 February 1640 but he yielded the office after three months due to ill health. He died on 4 July 1641.