NOBREGA, Manoel de (no-bray-gah), born in Portugal in 1517; died in Brazil in 1570. He entered the Jesuit novitiate of Coimbra in 1544, and embarked for Brazil in 1549 at the head of a band of missionaries. After landing he endeavored to reform the Portuguese colonists, whose vices interfered with his success in converting the natives. Not succeeding in this, he set out alone and on foot to travel among the native tribes, many of whom were cannibals. He was the first Jesuit in America that attempted this task. He induced thousands of Indians to give up their roving life and to form Christian colonies, where they were gradually trained to habits of industry. Even in his old age he continued to visit these converts, always going on foot from one colony to another. When the Portuguese colony was in danger of ruin from the attacks of the Tamayos, Nobrega offered to go among the savages and try to obtain peace. He was accompanied by the missionary Jose de Anchieta (q. v.), and was successful in his mission Nobrega was afterward regarded as the savior of the colony. He was for twenty years before his death provincial of the Jesuits in Brazil, during which period he established numerous residences and colleges, and was instrumental in civilizing a large part of the country. Among his works are a series of letters that describe his missionary work in Brazil. They were written between 1545 and 1555, and a translation into Italian was published at Venice (1559). He also wrote "Carta escrita da Citade de San Salvador de Bahia no anno de 1550, ao P. Geral," Latin translation (Louvain, 1569). A large number of manuscripts containing Nobrega's letters and diaries, written in Brazil, are preserved in the library of the Jesuit college at Lisbon. His life has been written by Charles Sainte Foy.