The Autonomous Region of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Education, Science and Culture, has recently acquired the Book of Francisco do Canto e Castro Pacheco, the "provedor" (provider) of the Portuguese India Armada.

The work, dated from mid-1754, consists of a manuscript with 140 pages written by several hands. The book contains a list of properties, income, credits and payments concerning properties located on Terceira, S. Jorge, Graciosa and Lisbon.

The properties mentioned in the book were part of two "morgadios" (estates) created by Pêro Anes Canto and several "terças" (third part of the estate) that belonged to prominent figures from 16th century Terceira.

This book in sheepskin binding with a leather strap was part of Canto e Castro family's archive, whose organisation and preservation was one of the requirements of the "morgadios" created by Pêro Anes do Canto.

Comprising numerous volumes and documents dating from the late 15th century to the 19th century, the family archive escaped destruction by fire thanks to the intervention of Eduardo Abreu (1855-1912) following the death of the last "morgado" of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios in the city of Porto on October 14, 1888.

In 1893, the estate passed into the hands of Azorean scholar Ernesto do Canto (1831-1900), who later left his book collection to the public library. Currently, the archives are available for scholars at the Ponta Delgada Library and Regional Archives.