"Wind Cattle", Fugitive Slaves, and Cattle Theft: Ranching in Taxation and Justice Disputes in the Northern Hinterlands of Portuguese America (18th Century)

Abstract

In the 18th century, the captaincies of Ceará and Piauí were responsible for a significant portion of the cattle-raising activities in Portuguese America. These captaincies had interconnected territorial formations, forming a colonial region whose main characteristic was the economic exploitation of livestock. This article analyzes cattle ranching in this region from two perspectives. First, using legislation issued by the Crown, it seeks to explain the expansion of the pastoral frontier in light of colonial settlement projects for the “Sertões do Norte” (Northern Backlands), conceived in administrative spheres on both sides of the Atlantic. Then, by delving into issues related to colonial justice and taxation, the article examines the correspondence between colonial agents (governors, ouvidores, capitães-mores, councilmen) and metropolitan authorities regarding disputes over jurisdictions in the remote areas of Portuguese America. These conflicts reveal the sertões as spaces where the application of colonial directives proved particularly challenging.