sentences:  African slavery became more common in Brazil during the mid 16th century, though the enslavement of indigenous people continued into the 17th and even the 18th century in the backlands of Brazil.In the first 250 years after the colonization of the land, roughly 70% of all immigrants to the colony were enslaved people.Indigenous slaves remained much cheaper during this time than their African counterparts, though they did suffer horrendous death rates from European diseases.