Pedro Teixeira
| Pedro Teixeira | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | Late 16th century Cantanhede, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died | 4 July 1641 Portuguese Colony of Brazil |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation | Explorer |
| Known for | First European to travel up the entire length of the Amazon River. |
Pedro Teixeira (died 4 July 1641) was a Portuguese explorer who became, in 1637, the first European to travel up the entire length of the Amazon River.
Teixeira was born at Cantanhede; the date of his birth is unknown. His exploits are considered remarkable even by today's standards. Because of Teixeira and other Portuguese who pushed into the depths of the Amazon, Portugal was able to obtain far more of South America from their Spanish competitors than the Treaty of Tordesillas had granted in 1494. Teixeira`s expedition became the first simultaneously to travel up and down the Amazon River. He was called by the Indian natives Curiua-Catu, meaning The Good and Friendly White Man.
In 1637, two Franciscan friars, under threats from nearby natives, abandoned their mission on the Amazon River and, with six soldiers, paddled a canoe up the entire length of the river to the principal Portuguese settlement of Fort Presépio. Their arrival led the Portuguese to wonder how far east the Spaniards had settled the Amazon. Although Spain and Portugal were both under the rule of Philip IV of Spain (Philip III of Portugal), trading rivalry was nevertheless intense and there was a strong movement towards the restoration of the Portuguese independence (which did take place in 1640). Consequently, the governor of Maranhão, Jacome Raimundo de Noronha, lost no time in commissioning an expedition under the command of Captain Pedro de Teixeira.
Teixeira already had considerable experience exploring the Amazon and the Xingu River leading expeditions to expel English and Dutch traders and settlers. One of the Franciscan friars, Andres de Toledo, was dispatched to Lisbon to report his expedition to the Portuguese authorities.
So Teixeira became the first European to travel up the Amazon River, reaching Quito by way of the Napo River. The Portuguese expedition was a large one, consisting of 47 canoes powered by 1,200 natives and Negroes to transport 70 fully armed Portuguese soldiers and their cargo of food, weapons, ammunition and barter goods. Feeding so many over a journey of several months was a formidable task, demanding the most of the explorers' hunting, fishing and food gathering skills, and often requiring barter with local tribes. The journey upstream against a strong current was arduous, and advance parties were regularly sent out to reconnoiter the way ahead in order to identify the correct fork in the river to take. Teixeira also had difficulty persuading the natives to stay with the expedition as it got farther from their homes.
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