New Brittany in 1512

Here is that story!
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Map 9

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In 1512 the colony had 13,400 inhabitants, including 1,900 white couples (6,600 people) and 1,500 mixed-race couples (4,500 people). The other 2,300 are 1,300 single white men and 1,000 Indians more or less subjected to forced labor. Port Conan then had 3,500 inhabitants.
Mortality is high among settlers, half of them die within 2 years of their arrival. Diseases cause the bulk of deaths.

Initially, the colony lived mainly around the Port Conan worksite. Hundreds of workers must be fed. The export of Brazil wood and especially the production of cane sugar remained marginal until 1509.
In 1512 there are 400 workers and 150 soldiers on the site and 4000 people work to feed them. 300 people work in the timber trade and 3,500 in sugar cane. There are already 15 plantations which mainly belong to Breton nobles.
The colony extends over a little over 1200 km2 but its area of commercial influence, with the Indians, is much larger.

n 1502 Jean VI published the charter of New Brittany. The land belongs by default to the duke who rents it, sells it or gives it away free of charge.
Whites and metis have the same rights and duties. They must pay a tax to the Church, to the duke and to serve in the militia.
Slavery is officially prohibited but the natives, all subjects of the duke, are "entrusted" to chosen people, often rich Breton nobles. They are called the Ducal Serfs. Serfs can be removed from masters in case of abuse.

Relations with the local Indians - the Tupinambás - initially good, deteriorated with the progress of the Port Conan construction site and the massive landing of settlers. A coalition of Indians tried to drive out the Bretons in 1506 but they were quickly repelled. The Bretons will take 4 years to completely pacify the bay at the cost of very heavy losses among the natives, already affected by serious epidemics which came with the colonists.