_Introductory Remarks._
The following is a résumé of the German colonies[5] in Brazil and a
brief introduction to their history.
For the sake of convenience, the colonies have been divided:
First; according to the states in which they are located.
Second; according to the date of founding.
Third; according to the kind of colony administratively at the time of
founding. As to this they fall under three categories:
a) Private colonies, i.e., founded by a private individual or
corporation.
b) Provincial colonies, i.e., founded by a particular state or former
province.
c) State colonies, i.e., founded by the central government, whether
during the time of the Empire[6] or since the formation of the Republic.
The word _German_ as applied to colonists refers only to natives of
Germany who became naturalized citizens of Brazil and to Brazilians of
German extraction.
Colonies located within the confines of other German colonies (_e.g.,_
Hansa, São Bento _etc._) are not listed.
_Direct immigration_ signifies immigration from Europe.
_Indirect immigration_ signifies immigration from a South American
country bordering on Brazil; immigration from another Brazilian state;
or from another colony within the same state.
Numerical statistics concerning individual colonies have been avoided
except in a few cases where they are of sufficient comparative
importance to be noted in a work of this scope.
All the colonies coming in consideration (excepting some of those
founded since 1890) have been "emancipated," _i.e.,_ they no longer
receive special aid from, the government and their special colonial
directorates have been abolished.
The states of Brazil which are important so far as German colonization
is concerned are Bahia, Minas Geraes, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro
(Federal District), São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catharina and Rio Grande do
Sul.[7] This is the geographical order from north to south and the one
according to which they will be taken up.