When a black mineral was discovered in Villa Rica, the locals sent a sample to Portugal for analysis. It was Gold! The name of the town was changed to
Ouro Preto (black gold) and transformed into a booming, economicly thriving city. Gold fever spread throughout the state. Many gem, silver and gold mines were opened. Modern, mechanized extraction techniques were unknown. The owners of these mines needed cheap labor, slave labor, to remove the ore and extract the gold. Thousands of slaves were required and the Portuguese were clever.
Since the local Indian population in Brazil was unfit for slavery, hundreds of Portuguese and Brazilian vessels sailed for Africa to capture members of that robust race.
In 1739, the Portuguese master of the 400-ton two masted ship "Madalena" arrived on the west coast of Africa. Her crew went inland and encountered Galanga and his local tribe. The Portuguese overwhelmed them all with superior weapons. Galanga, his royal family, ministers, court and entire tribe were taken captive. In all 191 human beings. They were marched towards the coast and the waiting slave ship for several days in crudely- fashioned iron neck collars chained to one another. 40 people died on the march. On the beach prior to embarking for Brazil, a Portuguese catholic priest in obediance to the king´s wishes, baptized them all on the sand. The women he named Maria. The men he named Francisco. Chico is the nickname for a man named Francisco. Rei is the Portuguese word for king. Hence, Galanga, king of his nation, became Chico Rei, king of slaves.
Chico Rei arrived in Brazil on April 09, 1740 after a fifty day crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean. Many of the slaves including Chico´s queen died. Only 112 living mummies arrived alive. This lot was sold to Major Augusto who owned a gold mine called "Mina de Encardideira" in Minas Gerais. They were marched into the very remote and fobidding interior and later arrived in Ouro Preto. For many years Chico Rei and his people worked in Major Augusto´s gold mine. They worked Monday through Saturday but were allowed to rest on Sunday. Major Augusto and others, noticed that Chico Rei was different. His behavior and manner of speaking, having learned Portugûes, were remarkable. Major Augusto sought out Chico´s company frequently and learned that he had at one time been a king. Chico worked tirelessly to bring relief to his people. He helped to care for the sick and spoke on behalf of the elderly blacks hoping to reduce their suffering. Major Augusto was impressed with this king and often gave in to Chico´s requests. There evolved a truce between the two men. Many other whites respected this noble African.
Having been converted to the catholic church and unable to attend service in the white-only, gold-filled, baroque churches of Ouro Preto, the slaves devised a plan to build their own church. Smearing their bodies with oil, the slaves worked in the gold mines during the day. At night the small amounts of gold dust which clung to their bodies was removed and hidden. When enough gold dust was saved the blacks applied for permission to build their own church. It was called Igreja Nossa Senhora Santa Efigênia no Alto Cruz (Our lady of Saint Efigênia of the High Cross), who was the patron saint of the blacks. Enough gold was smuggled out of the mine to eventually buy Chico Rei´s freedom.
Production in the gold mine decreased significantly and the dying Major Augusto freed Chico Rei and sold the gold mine to him with money that he himself loaned to Chico. Chico Rei´s gold mine then began to produce fabulous amounts of gold. This gold was used to buy freedom for Chico´s former subjects. Chico worked tirelessly for the rest of his life in defence of the slaves and their freedom. He became a symbol of freedom to many blacks and later to those in Minas Gerais yearning for freedom from the Portuguese crown. He died of hepatitis in 1774. He was 67 years old.
