BRAZIL 
but no definite attempt was made to settle it, 
or assume governing power by the Portuguese 
until 1549, fifty-seven years after Columbus 
had been to America, when Portugal awoke to 
the great possibilities of the country and dis 
patched her first Governor General in the 
personage of Thome de Souza. 
During the century following the arrival 
of its first constituted governor, Brazil became 
the scene of numerous attacks and invasions on 
the part of the French, Dutch and British, 
each one desirous of acquiring portions of its 
territory, having been attracted by the current 
stories of its great wealth and latent resources. 
For a time both France and Holland estab 
lished themselves in a small way witjfin its 
boundary, but ultimately abandoned their out 
posts. 
From 1640 to 1808 Brazil was governed by 
a Viceroy, who resided in Rio de Janeiro. 
The victorious armies of Napoleon and their 
progress across the Spanish Peninsula ulti 
mately caused King John to abandon his capi 
tal in Portugal and flee to Brazil, where he