Page "Palmares (quilombo)" Paragraph 22

The inhabitants of the larger towns typically protected them with elaborate fortifications, including walls and palisades, pit traps and trenches.

However, often the inhabitants abandoned and burned their towns when sizable Portuguese armies approached, melting away into the woods and mountains.

Hence even the most successful Portuguese expeditions rarely captured more than a few hundred people.

Zumbi's determined defense of his capital against the Portuguese, who brought up artillery to assist in the attack, was unusual.