class="apple-converted-space"> Timoron which the
Portuguese
established themselves, and is thus
usually considered the cradle of East Timor. In 1556, a group of Dominican
friars started missionary work on the north coast of Timor. In 1641 they arrived
to the village of
Lifau, five km
to the west of modern
Pante
Macassar, where they baptized the royal family of the
Ambeno
kingdom. A permanent Portuguese
settlement arose in the 1650s due to migration from
Larantuka
on
Flores.
The
Eurasian
population in Lifau became known as Topasses.
After 1664 they were governed by officers belonging to the
Hornay
and
Da
Costafamilies, and were able dominate most of Timor.In 1702, Lifau became the
authorized capital of the colony when it received the first governor from Lisbon.
The following period saw frequent clashes between the governor and the
independent-minded Topasses, who had their strongholds in
Tulicãowest of Lifau, and
Animata
in the inland. Under their leader
Gaspar da Costa
they attacked the Dutch colonial post
at
