A LAND OF PROMISE
WANTED: ten million immigrants.
This is the cry that comes up from this great republic, for Brazil to-day
possesses the greatest amount of undeveloped fertile land that is to be
found in the world. The republic is still in the process of creation,
but, when all the latent possibilities are uncovered, it will be a
towering giant. It is in the same condition that the United States was
three-quarters of a century ago. Now we have about thirty inhabitants to
the square mile, while Brazil has less than six. If the workers go there,
Brazil will be one of the greatest sources of food supply in the whole
world long before the end of this present century. There is scarcely an
article, useful either for food or raiment, that cannot profitably be
raised within its borders. Great states, which are empires in themselves,
are as well qualified for the abode of the white man as many of the
commonwealths within Uncle Sam’s borders. The heat is not such a bugaboo
as many endeavour to portray it, for the Americans who live there do not
complain of it at all. There are millions of untilled acres which, sooner
or later, will be centres of industry and activity. This development
will be difficult with individual effort, and it will be necessary for
colonies to be formed with sufficient capital for aggressive work. On
the Amazon, for instance, nature is too productive, too prolific, for
isolated effort. It needs united and constant work and push to conquer.
When once conquered, however, this very prodigality and fecundity will
reward human effort, and wealth will follow. If the engineer builds a
railroad, the tropical rains wash away the embankment; if the colonist
turns his back on his clearing for a few months it becomes covered with a
heavy growth; telegraph poles and fence posts put forth green leaves, and
railroad ties have been known to sprout in the rainy season.
Will this conquest of the tropics become necessary? If the doleful
predictions of Mr. J. J. Hill and others are true, the United States will
soon become an importer, rather than an exporter, of food supplies, and
other sources must be looked to and new virgin lands developed. We find
that in spite of the rapid development of Argentina and Canada, food
supplies are advancing by leaps and bounds, and every theorist is looking
for a solution. Science has provided means for overcoming the sources
of pollution found in the tropics, and the development can now take
place under healthful conditions. Brazil is awaiting that effort. Social
conditions may seem to be an obstacle; but a colony can practically
establish its own social conditions, and need not be bothered to any
great extent by those surrounding it. Brazil is the only country in South
America where church and state have been formally separated, and this is
a good indication of progress, for any form of religion may be practised
without fear of disturbance.
Brazil is a very expensive country in which to live as well as travel.
Nearly every article used in the house is imported, and the import duties
are very high. Not only that, but the tradesmen expect an exorbitant
profit in many instances. A pair of American shoes costing not to exceed
$4.00 in the States will retail here for $10.00. An American who lives
there came back from a visit to the States and brought back with him,
among other articles, a rug and a piano. The rug cost him $20.00 in New
York, and the duty amounted to $26.00. I did not learn what the piano was
worth, but it cost him nearly $200.00 to get it through the customs. All
goods for ladies’ wear and men’s furnishing are sold at correspondingly
high prices.
Table supplies are very high also. Most of the grocery sundries are
imported and bring good prices. Even the produce of the country is dear.
Vegetables in the market sell as high as with us, while fruit, in this
land which nature endowed so richly for fruit culture, is sold almost
if not entirely as high as in New York. Beef is the one item that is
comparatively cheap. Butter retails at 50 cents and upward a pound, eggs
at 35 and 40 cents a dozen in the summer season, and all kinds of poultry
for the table are correspondingly high. Café prices are expensive, except
for the little cups of coffee, and it is a mystery to me how the majority
of the people live, for wages are not nearly so good as in the United
States. Rent is another expensive item, so that it must take every dollar
the average man earns to keep up, and he cannot have anything left for a
savings account.
The American drummer has been down this way with some lines of American
goods. Through windows, where lovers have whispered sweet words to
willing ears for centuries, there comes the busy clatter of the American
sewing machine; on the coffee plantations, and even in the rubber camps,
Indians, negroes and whites listen to the quavering, and ofttimes grating
tones, of the American phonograph; in stores where the shopkeeper and
clerk sit listlessly, as though not caring whether you buy or not, the
cash is guarded by the unerring treasurer, the American cash register,
and the goods are oftentimes weighed on an American computing scale;
dark-eyed and dark-complexioned men pound at the keys of American
typewriters, and the machine is sometimes as erring in its spelling of
Portuguese as English in our own land; American farming implements may be
seen rusting in the weather, just as they are neglected by our farmers
in Oklahoma and Kansas; children are sometimes hauled around in little
American perambulators or express wagons, and cans, which have held the
products of the great oil trust, are now used to carry water from the
public fountains. The Yankee medicine-man has been here, although the
familiar terms of “pink pills for pale people,” and other household
words, are scarcely recognizable when translated into Portuguese. On
the bill-boards and on walls that are centuries old, and there are many,
one will see the familiar picture of a boy with a mountain codfish on
his back, and the message that this medicine will lay flesh on the
back of the thinnest Brazilian. American windmills turn around at the
beckoning of the Atlantic breezes, and American-built engines pull the
high-tariffed freight over the tortuous curves of the Brazilian railways.
Although the United States purchases almost one-third of the total
exports of Brazil, yet we send to Brazil only one-tenth of the imports,
and rank third in importance. This is, of course, due to the fact that
it has only been within the last few years that the United States has
developed into a great exporting country. It is due further to the fact
that American manufacturers have not studied the markets, as have those
of other countries; England and Germany in particular. British and German
banks have branches in Rio, Bahia, Pernambuco, Pará, Manaos, São Paulo,
Santos, and Porto Alegre, and these banks are great aids to business men
from these countries. Furthermore, all of these banks make money and pay
large dividends to their stockholders. At present there is no American
bank in the country, or in all of South America for that matter, while
Americans living and travelling there are all urging the establishment of
such an institution. Personally, I believe that it would be a successful
enterprise, if conducted along the lines pursued at home, for the methods
of the banks working there are slow and tedious, and it requires a half
hour to do what should be done in five minutes.
Another advantage of Europe has been in the matter of transportation.
There are several English, German, French, Italian and Spanish lines,
which run fine passenger steamers to Europe, thus giving service every
few days to that continent, and affording quick transportation for
freight. In addition there are many more boats, called intermediate
steamers, which also carry passengers, but are slower boats and make
a specialty of cargo. It is no longer necessary, however, to go to
Brazil by the way of Europe, for it takes much longer and is no more
comfortable. The Lamport and Holt Line maintain a bi-weekly line of
steamers between New York, Bahia, Rio and Santos, and they have some
excellent boats in service. The Vasari, on which I travelled, is as
comfortable as any of the European boats, and has accommodation for
a large number of first-class passengers. They make the trip from New
York to Rio in sixteen to seventeen days, which is about the same time
as the best boats from Southampton and Cherbourg, so that the passenger
saves the time consumed in the transatlantic voyage. I would like to see
the United States adopt the policy of encouraging a line of boats to
the South American ports either by subsidy or payment for better mail
service, so that there would be not only a more frequent but a quicker
service. It is a mistaken economy to refuse this means of extending
our commerce to the “other Americans,” who naturally, and Brazil in
particular, are favourably inclined, and appreciate the fraternal tie of
Americanism.
Furthermore, it is necessary for American manufacturers to study
the people and the market, more than has been done in the past. The
Brazilians are particular what they buy, and want the best. They are
not satisfied with just anything, as some seem to believe. Sometimes a
change in established models might be profitable—at least it would be
wise to print labels and directions in Portuguese for the convenience of
the people, as well as to please them by such a compliment. Travelling
representatives should be sent who not only speak the language, but
understand a little bit of the Latin nature, and their methods of doing
business. It is not possible to transact business in the same way that
it is done at home, for there are bound to be more delays. The European
salesmen understand that and cater to it. If the business is worth
cultivating at all it is worth working in the proper way to accomplish
results. I also believe in the establishment of American houses for the
sale of American goods. At present the greater part of the American goods
shipped there are sold through foreign representatives, who also handle
competing goods of other countries for similar purposes. This, added
to their natural preference, often leads to a secondary consideration
being given to the goods of Uncle Sam. The packing system of American
manufacturers has also come in for a great deal of criticism, because
the goods are not packed securely. It would be an object lesson to
these same manufacturers if they could see the care with which European
manufacturers pack their goods. Everything is done up with the greatest
care to prevent breakage and damage, while American manufacturers pack
their goods in the same way that they would for a short shipment in the
States; not taking into consideration the longer, harder and rougher
handling to which they are likely to be subjected.
The volume of business in Brazil has reached large figures. The total
imports for the year 1909, as reported by the Brazilian government,
amounted to $177,731,232. This is an average importation of $10.00 for
each man, woman and child in the republic. American manufacturers look
with longing eyes toward China with her teeming millions. And yet the
four hundred millions of Chinese used less than twice the value of
imported goods as compared with the eighteen millions of Brazilians.
The low wages, and consequently low purchasing power of the masses of
Chinese, will, for many decades, prevent that country from becoming a
great per capita importer. If the coffee situation improves there will
be a wonderful increase in Brazilian imports, for many improvements are
withheld in the coffee states at the present time on that account.
The exports for the same year were valued at $304,977,081. This leaves
a trade balance in favour of Brazil of $127,245,849, which is a
creditable showing. Some of the staple items of export are as follows:
coffee, $167,375,850; rubber, $94,630,305; cacao, $9,000,000; tobacco,
$9,696,685; hide, $9,097,705; maté (tea) $8,288,935; nuts, $1,121,278.
The total receipts of the government for 1909 amounted to about
$150,000,000, of which $93,297,952 was realized from import duties and
a small balance was left in the treasury. The estimates for the present
year are about $150,000,000. The total federal foreign debt is reported
to be $369,087,633.38. This does not include a considerable amount of
guaranteed and floating debt of the national government.
The system of raising revenue in Brazil is a perplexing and complex one
as well. Some of the states have a very small land tax. It would be far
better to increase this, and in that way force the breaking up of the
immense estates to which some of the land is held. Instead of that, they
resort to many petty little imposts to raise the necessary revenue. The
principal one, of course, is an export duty on everything. Every one in
the United States ought to take an interest in Brazil, for whoever drinks
a cup of coffee or cocoa, eats the Brazil nuts, uses a bicycle, owns an
automobile, wears rubber boots or mackintosh, has assisted in paying the
running expenses of one state or another, as well as that of the national
government. Therefore it is well to take an intelligent interest in what
we aid in supporting.
The revenues of the national government are raised mostly by import
duties. The most of these are levied by specific weight instead of _ad
valorem_, so that sometimes articles which are heavy, but comparatively
inexpensive, must pay a high duty. Then, in addition to regular duties,
there are often special imposts levied for the construction of port
works, or other public improvements. The states also have an export
duty on everything sent out of the state, and sometimes even from one
municipality to another. The farmer who hauls away a few bushels of beans
or mandioca root must pay the export tax to the proper official, or stand
a fine. All kinds of business are licensed. A merchant is sometimes
obliged to pay a half dozen of these licenses, because of the different
lines of goods carried. Each license permits the selling of certain
specific goods. Then, in addition, there are stamp duties on all forms of
commercial business, such as promissory notes, checks, drafts, receipts,
etc. When you get a draft cashed a receipt is duly made out by the bank,
a revenue stamp put on it and receipted by the recipient. Every article
manufactured in the country bears a revenue stamp, except, as in the case
with cotton goods, for instance, when so much a meter is paid to the
government. Their idea is that in this way they must make up for the loss
of import duties, by reason of goods being manufactured in the country.
Another form of raising money is by giving out monopolies. In the city
of São Paulo one man has the monopoly of the undertaking business. No
one can get a burial permit until he has the consent of this man, which
can only be obtained by paying him what his profit would probably be.
This would depend on whether the funeral would be of the first, second
or third class. The first-class funeral is very expensive, because it
provides for a fine funeral car with four richly-caparisoned horses, two
drivers and two footmen in elaborate livery, many carriages, and all
other requirements after the same expensive fashion.
There are many lines of business that could be very profitably pursued,
but it is necessary first to make a study of local conditions and
requirements; and this can best be done by having a representative
on the ground. The local political leaders should be consulted, so
that satisfactory arrangements can be made in the way of franchise or
concession for the conduct of business; and especially is this true if
the business to be conducted is manufacturing. All these preliminaries
should be attended to before the investment is made. These same
conditions apply to many of the Latin countries, because so many of their
laws are local. It is best to understand the local conditions thoroughly,
and this can only be done by some one on the ground, and in touch with
local conditions. After this is done the investment is safe, and in
general these enterprises are encouraged in every way by the various
state and municipal administrations.
Germany and England are engaged in a war for commercial supremacy in
South America, and the competition is very keen. In a financial sense
England practically owns Argentina, and has investments there of about
$2,000,000,000. In Brazil she has perhaps $650,000,000 invested in
bonds and business enterprises. It is all invested in things that
have helped to develop the resources, and much of it under government
guarantee. Germany has not more than half as much money invested, but
her representatives have been making serious inroads on the commerce of
Great Britain. At the wharves and in the warehouses the boxes and bales
with German marks on them seem to predominate. In the stores German goods
are driving out British manufacturers, and it is this aggressiveness
that has developed the hatred of Germany one finds among Englishmen
everywhere. The German caters to what he believes the Brazilian or the
Argentinian wants. Some of the methods pursued by German houses, however,
are reprehensible. If an American or English article proves popular it
will not be long until there will be a German imitation on the market,
similar in style and make, at a little cheaper price. It will probably
bear an English name too, in order to carry the deception still further.
Brazil is impartial in her purchases, and opens her hospitable doors to
the commerce of the world. If there is any leaning or favouritism, it is,
I believe, in favour of the United States. The goods sold by European
merchants we can sell if the effort is made. Trade here, as in other
parts of the world, is secured by the firm who can sell the best goods at
the least price, in the long run, and the German will lose out in some
lines, because their quality is cheap the same as their price.
The visit of Secretary Root and the battleship fleet did much to interest
Brazilians in the United States; the former by the tact and the charm of
his personality, the latter by the interest shown in South America. The
people are still talking about both events. Money was spent lavishly.
The state of São Paulo spent $250,000 on the occasion of the Root visit.
Our diplomatic representatives have also been improved, and it would
be difficult to find a better man for the place than our Ambassador to
Brazil, Hon. Irving B. Dudley.
The Monroe Doctrine is hard for the South Americans to understand. They
can not believe that it is an absolutely unselfish policy on the part
of the United States, and it has undoubtedly been the cause of much
political “jingoism” among their politicians. Every instance in which our
State Department interferes, or takes a stand in Latin-American politics,
is greedily seized upon by some element, and is frequently fostered by
foreigners, who fear American influence and trade competition. The fact
that it is not a clearly-defined or definitely promulgated statement
leaves it open to unfair and unfavourable interpretation. Each person or
country interprets it according to its own hopes or fears. The formidable
strength of the United States and the recent policy of expansion has
oftentimes caused the element of fear to predominate. In its best
interpretation the Monroe Doctrine is rather like a big boy who makes
himself a self-appointed guardian over the weaker one, which the latter
does not want, and will not appreciate until he is in danger of a good
whipping from a superior. It is better understood now than formerly,
perhaps, but the atmosphere is still hazy when the Monroe Doctrine is
mentioned. Two incidents happened while I was in South America which
enabled me to observe the trend of newspaper criticism concerning this
little-understood policy of the United States. It is a grave question
whether it has not done more harm to possible American supremacy in South
America than benefit.
“Order and Progress” is a good motto for any country. With order will
come progress, and with progress order is more easily maintained. The
future is painted in rosy colours by Brazilian writers and statesmen. All
reasonable deductions point that way. Natural resources are there, and
the greatest need is for people to develop them. It is not an El Dorado,
for nothing can be accomplished without work, thought, and planning. The
latent ambition of the people has been aroused, and they are looking
forward into the future. The United States can take a much larger part in
the development of the country than she has in the past. It is the hope
of the writer that such will be the case. The American business man can
do far worse than to make a little study of this resourceful republic.
The people are awaiting the American merchant, manufacturer and banker;
they are seeking the American scientist, educator and expert in all
lines; and they will welcome the American traveller who is searching for
a good opportunity of investment.
FOOTNOTES
[1] The profession of a man can often be told by the ring he wears, which
is generally placed on the first finger. The ruby signifies a lawyer,
the emerald a physician, the sapphire a civil engineer, the turquoise a
military engineer and the granada, a red stone almost like a ruby, is
worn by a chemist.
[2] See appendix.
[3] “The New Brazil,” by Marie Robinson Wright.
[4] Land of the Amazons.
[5] The Bible in Brazil.
[6] NOTE.—The author desires to acknowledge his obligation for a number
of historical facts to The South American Republics, by Hon. Thomas C.
Dawson, and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, of New York and London.
APPENDICES
I
AREA AND POPULATION
The statistics of area and population of the various states are widely
divergent. One authority gives the total area as five million six hundred
and eighty-two thousand four hundred and fifteen square miles, and the
figures of population range from fifteen million to twenty-two million.
The figures herewith given are, in the writer’s opinion, the most
reliable, although the estimates of population are too high by perhaps
ten per cent. The total population probably does not exceed eighteen
million. The last census in 1900 gave the total number of inhabitants
as a little less than fifteen million, but it was considered very
inaccurate. The following table gives the estimated population in 1909:—
+-------------------+---------+----------+---------------+-----------+
| State | Area |Population| Capital |Inhabitants|
+-------------------+---------+----------+---------------+-----------+
|Alagoas | 22,580| 744,193| Maceio | 40,000 |
|Amazonas | 732,250| 286,269| Manao | 60,000 |
|Bahia | 164,600| 2,427,59| Bahia | 205,000 |
|Ceará | 40,240| 973,266| Fortaleza | 48,360 |
|Espirito Santo | 17,310| 240,452| Victoria | 20,000 |
|Goyaz | 288,470| 292,605| Goyaz | 13,475 |
|Maranhão | 177,520| 572,304| São Luiz | 50,000 |
|Matto Grosso | 532,550| 135,279| Cuyaba | 25,000 |
|Minas Geraes | 221,890| 4,119,971|Bello Horizonte| 25,000 |
|Pará | 443,790| 510,465| Pará (Belem) | 120,000 |
|Parahyba | 28,850| 562,534| Parahyba | 25,000 |
|Paraná | 85,430| 374,961| Curityba | 40,000 |
|Pernambuco | 49,560| 1,350,391| Pernambuco | 120,000 |
|Piauhy | 116,490| 383,205| Therezina | 20,000 |
|Rio de Janeiro | 26,630| 1,061,418| Nictheroy | 40,000 |
|Rio Grande do Norte| 22,190| 314,420| Natal | 23,000 |
|Rio Grande do Sul | 91,250| 1,317,060| Porto Alegre | 90,000 |
|Santa Catharina | 28,620| 367,113| Florianopolis | 30,000 |
|São Paulo | 112,280| 2,612,878| São Paulo | 350,000 |
|Sergipe | 15,090| 408,348| Aracajú | 25,000 |
|Federal District | 540| 855,920|Rio de Janeiro | 800,000 |
|Acre | 114,600| 70,000| | |
| +---------+----------+ | |
| |3,332,730|19,910,646| | |
+-------------------+---------+----------+---------------+-----------+
II
EDUCATION
The educational facilities in all of the states are inadequate, as the
statistics show, but in some of them, they are not only inadequate
but poor. The Ministry of Industry, Transportation and Public Works
has recently published a volume of general statistics, from which the
following table has been compiled, the first three columns giving the
figures for primary education, and remaining two columns relating to
secondary education:—
+-------------------+-------+---------+-----------+-------+----------+
|State |Schools|Enrolment| Attendance|Schools| Enrolment|
+-------------------+-------+---------+-----------+-------+----------+
|Alagoas | 271 | 3,255 | 10,959 | 7 | 837 |
|Amazonas | 250 | 5,476 | 4,495 | 5 | 452 |
|Bahia | 1,007 | 47,288 | 32,135 | 24 | 2,010 |
|Ceará | 382 | 16,267 | 12,982 | 16 | 1,183 |
|Federal District | 419 | 57,271 | 36,106 | 43 | 4,662 |
|Espirito Santo | 175 | 6,359 | 4,674 | 6 | 439 |
|Goyaz | 162 | 6,134 | 4,149 | 4 | 347 |
|Maranhão | 217 | 11,941 | 8,231 | 9 | 638 |
|Matto Grosso | 107 | 5,288 | 4,677 | 7 | 466 |
|Minas Geraes | 2,178 | 119,613 | 66,252 | 51 | 4,281 |
|Pará | 433 | 19,870 | 17,093 | 11 | 938 |
|Parahyba | 223 | 9,870 | 6,852 | 7 | 527 |
|Paraná | 309 | 13,566 | 10,640 | 7 | 483 |
|Pernambuco | 386 | 21,139 | 15,104 | 17 | 1,613 |
|Piauhy | 146 | 7,754 | 6,030 | 6 | 438 |
|Rio de Janeiro | 485 | 24,773 | 16,075 | 14 | 1,486 |
|Rio Grande do Norte| 152 | 7,601 | 6,547 | 5 | 378 |
|Rio Grande do Sul | 1,516 | 67,370 | 50,809 | 26 | 3,605 |
|S. Catharina | 376 | 14,159 | 10,535 | 9 | 905 |
|São Paulo | 1,708 | 82,089 | 61,066 | 46 | 4,146 |
|Sergipe | 245 | 8,839 | 5,797 | 7 | 419 |
| +-------+---------+-----------+-------+----------+
| |11,147 | 565,922 | 991,188 | 327 | 30,258 |
+-------------------+-------+---------+-----------+-------+----------+
III
THE AMAZON BASIN
It may be interesting to the reader to take a brief survey of the Amazon
and its tributaries. It will, at least, give a little idea of this vast
river system, which is the most marvellous in the world.
_Tocantins._ This river empties into the Amazon near its mouth, and some
have disputed its right to be named as an affluent of that river. James
Orton says this river “flows over a bed of diamonds, rubies, sapphires,
topazes and opals” on its way to the sea. With its branches, the Maranhão
and Araguay, it reaches out in a southerly direction for hundreds of
miles, and carries an immense volume of water.
_Xingu._ “The Xingu,” says an eminent authority, “receives fourteen
tributaries on its right and sixteen tributaries on its left bank,
the principal of which is the Iriri.” Any of these feeders would be
considered large rivers in any part of Europe.
_Tapajoz._ The source of this river is in the great state of Matto
Grosso, where it is formed by the union of the Arinos and Juruena. It
is eight hundred and twelve miles in length, but it is interrupted by a
number of cataracts. In some places the width of the Tapajoz is as great
as ten miles, but where it joins the Amazon it is only a trifle more
than a mile from shore to shore. Santarem, an ancient Indian village, is
situated on this river near its mouth, and has now grown into a town of
several thousand inhabitants.
_Madeira._ One of the largest of the rivers which flow into the Amazon
is the Madeira, which means the river of wood, owing to the number of
uprooted trees which float along its course. At low water these trees
are oftentimes thrown up on the sand banks, where they accumulate in
great masses. It is formed by a number of Peruvian and Bolivian streams.
This river is said to have a course of three thousand one hundred and
twenty-five miles, most of which is navigable for small boats at least.
_Purus._ This river is more than a mile wide at its mouth and has an
entire length of two thousand two hundred and eighty miles. Even in the
dry season it is navigable for almost a thousand miles. A dozen or more
rivers empty their contents into this stream, the names of which are
known to but few, and yet they are goodly rivers in themselves.
_Jurua._ There is a regular service of steamers up the Jurua for nine
hundred and thirty-eight miles of its one thousand two hundred and fifty
miles. This river was known to the early discoverers, and had been fully
explored nearly four centuries ago by those adventurers.
_Japura._ Yapura and Yapuru are other names of this river which serves as
a boundary between Brazil and Colombia for a distance. A regular service
of steamers is maintained on it also for several hundred miles.
_Rio Negro._ The Negro, or Black River is one of the principal arms of
the Amazon. It is more than a thousand miles in length and is one of the
largest rivers in this basin. It is joined to the Amazon by four mouths,
the broadest of which exceeds a mile in width. Through the Cassigueare
this river is put into direct communication with the Orinoco River, which
flows north into the Atlantic. There is a stretch of several miles, where
the water, at times, flows into the Atlantic through the Amazon, and at
others through the Orinoco. The Rio Branco, the White River, is the
principal tributary of the Rio Negro.
From the Peruvian Andes to its mouth the Amazon is three thousand
seven hundred and fifty miles long, of which two thousand five hundred
miles are in Brazil. Fair sized steamers can sail up the river three
thousand two hundred and fifty miles, and boats of lighter draft can go
up another one hundred and fifty miles. It would be wearisome to name
all the various affluents of this king of waters, for they are legion.
The names are interesting, if one looks at the meaning, for they are
nearly all Indian names. Thus the Carapauatuba is the “spot abounding
in mosquitoes,” the Gyrparana is the “river of the axe,” the Jacaré the
“river of alligators” and the Guariba is the “shrieking monkey.”
IV
SUGGESTIONS FOR TRAVELLERS
The Portuguese language is universally used in Brazil. Although very
similar to Spanish it is difficult for the Spanish linguist to understand
unless well versed in that tongue, for the ear will not readily catch the
difference in the sounds. The money is the same as the Portuguese system
also, with the _milreis_ as the unit. It is better in travelling through
South America to carry your exchange in English pounds, for all exchange
is figured on that basis; otherwise American dollars are converted into
pounds and then again into the money of the country, and the traveller is
likely to pay a double exchange.
Railroad travel in Brazil is rather high, and you are allowed no free
baggage. If you have a large trunk it will cost you almost as much to
carry it as for your own ticket. It is well to reduce your baggage to
a minimum in all of South America. The service on most of the roads is
quite good; the cars are very comfortable, being built on the American
plan. The most disagreeable feature is the dust at times, and it is
well to choose a day following a rain if such a thing is possible, and
provide yourself with a good dust coat. Good boats run several times a
week between Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and Santos, and smaller
coasting boats touch at the smaller ports. If the traveller is going to
Argentina it is well to purchase a through ticket, otherwise a $10.00 tax
is charged by the government for every ticket that carries one out of the
country. It costs nothing to get in the country, but $10.00 to get out,
providing the ticket is bought there.
Comfortable hotels will be found in the cities with a minimum rate
of about $3.00 per day for everything. Only coffee is served in the
morning, but the other two meals are very substantial ones with an
overabundance of meats. They are very cleanly in general, with good bath
accommodations. A few of the hotels have elevators, but most of them
do not. Cab charges are high. Although they are limited by law, it is
always best to find out the proper charge beforehand and not trust to the
driver’s conscience, for he may not have any. The prices at the stores
are generally elastic too, so that a good bargainer is right in his
element.
Have your mail plainly and carefully addressed. Do not use the word
“Esq.,” as it is likely to be considered a part of the name. In Brazil
city directories are indexed according to the first name. Thus John Smith
would be found under “J” and not under “S.” The postage on a letter is
now two hundred reis (six cents) for each half ounce and a post card
is one half that sum. The mail service is generally pretty sure but
oftentimes very slow, as I found out by experience.
In nearly all of Brazil light-weight clothing may be worn all the year
round. A light overcoat is almost necessary, and in the extreme southern
part heavier clothing would be comfortable in the winter time. It is well
to remember that the seasons below the equator are the opposite of those
in northern latitudes.
If the traveller has the time it is an interesting trip to go to Buenos
Aires and see that wonderful city, and then across the Andes by the
railroad, which has now been finished, to Chile. It is only a three days’
voyage from Santos to Montevideo and a night’s trip from there across
the river to Buenos Aires. From Valparaiso comfortable steamers run to
Panama, and the traveller can visit the several republics on the west
coast. Furthermore this trip affords an opportunity to visit Panama and
see the great work that is being done there. From Buenos Aires the return
trip to New York can be made by this route in less time than by Europe or
by the direct steamers.
V
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Many books have been published on Brazil in times past, but very few have
been devoted to that country in the past quarter of a century. The recent
books have nearly all been descriptions of a circular tour of South
America in one volume. For the benefit of the reader, who desires to make
a further study of this interesting republic, a list of those books which
have been found most interesting by the writer, is herewith given:—
AGASSIZ, LOUIS: A Journey to Brazil. Boston, 1868.
AKERS, CHARLES EDMOND: A History of South America, 1854-1904.
London, 1904.
BATES, HENRY WALTER: The Naturalist on the river Amazon.
London, 1864.
BROWN, C. BARRINGTON: Fifteen Thousand Miles on the Amazon and
its Tributaries. London, 1878.
CARPENTER, FRANK G.: South America: social, industrial and
political. Akron, Ohio, 1900.
CLARK, FRANCIS E.: The Continent of Opportunity. New York, 1907.
CURTIS, WILLIAM ELEROY: The Capitals of Spanish America. New
York, 1888.
DAWSON, THOMAS C.: The South American Republics. New York, 1903.
EWBANK, THOMAS: Life in Brazil. New York, 1856.
FLETCHER, JAMES C. AND D. P. KIDDER: Brazil and the Brazilians.
Boston, 1866.
GIBBON, LARDNER AND WM. L. HERNDON: Exploration of the Valley
of the Amazon. Washington, 1854.
HALE, ALBERT: The South Americans. Indianapolis, 1907.
KEANE, A. H.: South America; comprising a volume of Stanford’s
compendium of geography and travel. London, 1901.
KERBEY, J. ORTON: The Land of To-morrow. A newspaper
exploration up the Amazon and over the Andes. New York, 1906.
MARKWICK, W. FISHER: The South American Republics. New York,
1901.
MARTIN, PERCY F.: Through Five Republics of South America.
London, 1906.
MATHEWS, EDWARD D.: Up the Amazon and Madeira Rivers. London,
1879.
ORTON, JAMES: The Andes and the Amazon; or, Across the
Continent of South America. New York, 1870.
RUHL, ARTHUR: The Other Americans. New York, 1907.
SANTA ANNA NERY, FEDERICO: The Land of the Amazons. Translated
from the French. London, 1901.
SMITH, HERBERT H.: Brazil, the Amazons and the coast. New York,
1879.
SOUTHEY, ROBERT: A History of Brazil. London, 1817.
SPRUCE, ROBERT: Notes of a Botanist on the Andes and Amazon,
during years 1849-1864. London, 1908.
TUCKER, HUGH C.: The Bible in Brazil. New York, 1902.
VINCENT, FRANK: Around and About South America. New York, 1890.
WELLS, JAMES W.: Exploring and Travelling Three Thousand Miles
through Brazil. London, 1886.
WETMORE, CLAUDE H.: In a Brazilian Jungle. Boston, 1903.
WRIGHT, MARIE ROBINSON: The New Brazil; its Resources and
Attractions. Philadelphia, 1907.
INDEX
Acre, territory of, 179, 254, 348.
Agassiz, Louis, 187.
Agriculture, 126, 354.
Agricultural colleges, 225.
Alagoas, state of, 42.
Alta da Serra, 80.
Amazon, the, 7, 164 _et seq._, 354, 375.
Amazonas, state of, 6, 188, 333.
Ambition of Brazilians, 209.
Americans, 115, 209, 222, 225, 240, 245, 253, 342, 344, 356, 360.
Americanos, 1.
American Ambassador, 82, 324.
American Bible Society, work of, 297.
American colony, 134.
Anchieta, José, 292.
Andes, the, 4, 378.
Anglican Church, 301.
Ants, 173.
Ant hills, 111.
Ant-bear, 169.
Aracajú, 42.
Araguary, 244.
Architecture, 231-4.
Area of Brazil, 371.
Argentina, Republic of, 281.
Arid land, 43-4.
Aristocracy, 206.
Army, the, 277-9.
Ascuncion, capital of Paraguay, 163.
Automobiles, 66, 111.
Avenida Central, 53, 63, 277.
Bagé 249.
Bahia, city of, 20, 28-36, 194, 293, 308, 323;
bay of, 30;
state of, 39.
Bamboos, 84.
Baptist Church, 301.
Barbosa, Ruy, 230, 351.
Barra do Pirahy, 110.
Bauru, 247.
Beef, salted, 157-9.
Beira Mar, Avenida, 53, 55.
Belem, 109.
Belem (Pará), 181.
Bello Horizonte, 96.
Bibliography, 382.
Bilac, Olavo, 229.
Birds, 171.
Bolivia, Republic of, 254, 348.
Bombilla, 150.
“Bonds,” 72.
Botanical Garden, 82-5.
Brazil, vastness of, 2;
boundaries of, 4;
history of, 19, 323 _et seq._;
kingdom of, 314;
empire of, 323;
republic of, 14, 16, 334 _et seq._
Brazil nuts, 175.
Brazil-wood, 305.
Buenos Aires, 162, 250, 381.
Cabral, Pedro Alvarez, 19, 304.
Cacao, 255.
Cajú, the, 3.
Campinas, 125, 262.
Camocim, 253.
Campos Salles, Manoel Ferraz de, 346.
Cannibalism, 190, 192.
Capitancias, 20, 307.
Capricorn, Tropic of, 2, 142.
Carioca Aqueduct, 58.
Carriages, 65.
Carigadores, 65, 112.
Carbonados, 108.
Carnival, 211.
Catamaran boats, 25.
Caxias, Duke of, 58.
Ceará, state and city of, 44, 253, 333.
Central Railway, 95, 100, 109, 239.
Chile, Republic of, 281.
Church, Catholic, 287 _et seq._
Climate, 11, 354.
Coast, extent of, 4.
Coal, 160.
Coffee, Cultivation of, 63, 95, 102, 110, 127, 131, 144, 203-7, 243,
257, 260 _et seq._;
picking of, 267;
commission houses, 270;
production of, 274.
“Coffee King,” the, 129.
Colors, bright, 32, 70.
Colonies, government, 122.
Conservatives, the, 327.
Constant, Benjamin, 335.
Congress, 71, 207, 321, 338.
Conveyances, 111.
Cortes, the, of Portugal, 316, 318.
Corcovado, 4, 79, 88-9.
Cotton, 27.
Cotton mills, 94.
Courtesy, 199.
Cow tree, 85.
Cubras, Braz, 143.
Curytiba, 146, 147.
Customs, 52, 60, 62, 64, 111, 199 _et seq._, 276, 315.
Cuya, the, 150.
Cuyaba, 161.
Deodoro da Fonseca, President, 336, 339.
Diaz, Gonçalves, the poet, 228.
Diamantina, 241.
Diamonds, 103-8.
Diseases, 13.
Docks, 57.
Dom Pedro I, 58, 118, 315 _et seq._
Dom Pedro II, 1, 324 _et seq._
Dreadnaughts, new, 284.
Dumont Fazenda, 132.
Dust, 111.
Dutch, settlements of, 21, 26, 309.
Easter, 297.
Education, 241 _et seq._, 286, 373.
Elections, 211, 352.
English language, 116, 221.
England, 366.
Entre Rios, 95.
Equator, the, 23.
Espirito Santo, state of, 251, 252.
Estacio de Sá, 50.
Eu, Countess d’, 328, 331, 337.
Exposition, 73.
Exports, 358, 362.
Export tax, 273.
Expensiveness of living, 355.
Farina, 94.
Fazenderos, 126, 194.
Fazenda da Lapa, 126.
Federal District, 72.
Feijó, Padre, 323.
Festas, 211.
Fish, 61, 169.
Fiscal Island, 79.
Floriano Peixoto, President, 280, 339, 340.
Florianapolis, 151.
Flumenense, 49.
Fortaleza, 45, 253.
France, 205.
Fruits, 60, 126.
Gambling, 117.
Germans in Brazil, 147, 152, 159, 366.
German Lutheran Church, 301.
Gold Mining, 100-2.
Gonçalves Diaz, 53.
Goyaz, state of, 244.
Graft, 204, 327.
Granberry College, 223, 300.
Grass, 71.
Great Western Railway, 252.
Guayra, falls of, 11.
Guianas, the, 4.
Hermes da Fonseca, Marshal, 351.
Hevea rubber, 183.
History, 58, 98, 118, 304 _et seq._
Holidays, 211.
Hospitals, 59.
Hotels, 380.
Houses, 32, 34.
Huguenots, the, 20, 308.
Humming birds, 86, 171.
Iguassú, falls and river of, 9, 248.
_Ilex Paraguayensis_, 148-50.
Illiteracy, 214.
Immigration, 120, 353.
Imports, 358, 362.
Import duties, 355.
Independence, 317.
Indians, 176, 190, 192;
religion of, 287-291.
Infants, hospital for, 59.
Insects, 119, 172.
Instituto Agronomico, 126.
Inspectors, 209.
Iquitos, 8, 179.
Iron, 102.
Italians, 111, 122.
Itajahý, 77.
Itapura, 9.
Itatiaia, Mt., 5.
Jaguar, the, 167.
Japura River, 377.
Jardim Botanico, 83.
Jesuits, the, 20, 288, 310.
John, King, of Portugal, 21, 313-5.
Juiz de Fora, 95, 300.
Jundiahy, 246, 256.
Jurua River, 377.
Lagoa dos Patos, 153.
Lane, Horace M., 222.
La Plata River, 161.
Leopoldina Railway, the, 95, 250.
Liberals, the, 327.
Literature, 227-9.
Lloyd Brazilian Co., 19.
Lopez, the Paraguayan dictator, 325.
Lotteries, 52, 116.
Luz station, 258.
Maceio, 42, 252.
Mackenzie College, 222.
Madeira-Mamoré Railway, the, 253-6.
Madeira River, 8, 185, 254, 376.
Mammão, 36, 37.
Manaos, 12, 170, 178, 183, 189.
Mango, the, 36.
Maniçoba Rubber, 45.
Mangue, Avenida do, 56.
Mandioca, 93.
Manganese, 103.
Manatee, the “river cow,” 170.
Marmosette monkeys, 37.
Markets, 60.
Maranhão, state of, 253, 323;
river, 245.
Matto Grosso, 6, 161-3, 247.
Maté, 148-150.
Matosinhos, shrine of, 296.
Mauá, the, 53.
Mello, Admiral, 280, 341.
Methodist Episcopal Church South, 81, 300.
Military service, 278.
Minas Geraes, 95 _et seq._, 110, 240, 280, 311.
Mining, 100 _et seq._
Missionaries, Jesuit, 288;
Protestant, 290.
Mogyana Railway, the, 127, 243.
Monroe Doctrine, 368.
Monroe Palace, 53, 54.
Montevideo, 381.
Money, Brazilian, 37.
Monkeys, 61, 168.
Monte Alegre plantation, 129.
Moraes Barros, Prudente José de, 344.
Morro do Castillo, 50.
Morro Velho mine, 102.
Morality, 201.
Mountains, 5, 8, 92, 109.
Municipal Theatres, 118, 233.
Museums, 71, 119.
Natal, 44, 252.
National Library, 71.
Navy, the, 280;
revolt of, 280-5, 341.
Negroes, 32-4, 194-7, 311;
religion of, 288.
Negro, Rio, 8.
Nervousness of Brazilians, 64.
New York, 23.
Newspapers, 67, 116, 230.
Niagara, comparison with, 9.
Nictheroy, 77, 251.
Normal School, 220.
Northwestern Railway, the, 247.
Norte-Americanos, 1.
November, 15th of, 60.
Novo Friburgo, 91.
Old Rio, 74.
Opinion, public, 210.
Oranges, 36.
Orchids, 86.
Ordem e Progreso, 17.
Ouro Preto, 98, 100.
Ouvidor Rua, 52, 64.
Palm, the, 36, 81, 83, 174-5.
Panama, lesson of, 13.
Pan American Conference, 55.
Pan American Railway, the, 247.
Pará, state of, 179;
city of, 12, 180-3, 254, 294, 323.
Paraguayan war, 282, 325.
Paraguay River, 8, 161-2.
Paraguay tea, 148-150.
Paraná River, 8.
Paraná, state of, 6, 12, 147-9.
Paranaguá, 145, 146.
Parahyba River, 95, 111.
Parahyba, state of, 43.
Parasites, 86.
Parks, 57.
Parrots, 171.
Paulistas, the, 20, 193, 291, 310.
Paulista Railway, the, 125, 242.
Paulo Affonso Falls, 46-7.
Peçanha, Dr. Nilo, 350.
Pelotas, 153, 157.
Penna, Dr. Affonso, 97, 344.
People, the, 92, 192 _et seq._
Pernambuco, 20, 25-7, 33, 252, 306;
state of, 27, 260.
Peru, 254.
Petropolis, 78-81, 91, 300.
Pianos, 65.
Piauhy, 45.
Pine, 147.
Piracicaba, 246.
Plains, 6.
Politics, 203-6, 352.
Police, 66.
Polytechnic School, 220.
Ponta Grossa, 10, 146, 248.
Population, 371.
Portugal, 50, 304.
Portuguese, the, 20, 198.
Porto Alegre, 153, 159, 249.
Presbyterian Church, 301.
Press, the, 230.
Protestant churches, 299 _et seq._
Protestant Episcopal Church, 301.
Purus River, 376.
Railways, 161, 236 _et seq._, 379.
Rain, 69, 177.
Rainfall, 7.
Recife, 25-7.
Red soil, 128.
Religion, 191, 287 _et seq._
Revolution, 146.
Revenue, sources of, 263-5.
Rhododendrons, 81.
Riberão Preto, 125, 128.
Rice, 146.
Rio de Janeiro, 11, 41, 48 _et seq._, 234, 283, 301, 309, 311;
state of, 77, 251;
bay of, 77, 89.
Rio Grande do Norte, 25, 43.
Rio Grande do Sul, 153, 325, 340;
state of, 6, 12, 16, 152 _et seq._, 279.
Rio Negro, 179, 377.
Rio de la Plata, 7.
Rio Vermelho, 35.
Rivers, 7.
Rodrigues Alves, Francisco de Paulo, 347.
Roman Catholic, 222.
Root, Secretary, 139, 368.
Rubber, 133, 178, 180, 183-7, 255;
trees, 85.
Saldanha de Gama, Admiral, 280, 341.
Salt, 44.
Salted meats, 61.
Santa Maria and Uruguay Railway, the, 249.
Santo Antonio, 254.
Santa Catharina, 151.
San Roque, Cape of, 3, 25.
San Sebastian, 50.
Santa Theresa, convent of, 88.
Santos, 143-5, 256, 307.
São Paulo, state of, 109 _et seq._, 196, 262, 279, 334.
São Paulo Railway, the, 125, 142, 256-8.
São Paulo-Rio Grande Railway, the, 248.
São Francisco River, 45-7.
São Salvador, 29.
Schmidt, Francisco, 129.
Senador Pompeu, 253.
Serra do Mar, 5, 88, 146, 258.
Sergipe, state of, 42.
Shipping, 182.
Shrines, 295.
Slavery, 195;
abolishment of, 330-4.
Sloth, 168.
Smith, Clinton D., 225.
Snakes, 174.
Society, 82.
Solimoes River, 178.
Sorocobana Railway, the, 245.
South America, republics of, 4.
Spain, 309.
Spaniards, 21.
State militia, 279.
Statistics, 371-4.
Steamers, 236.
Stones, precious, 103-8.
Subsidies, 207.
Sugar Loaf, 41, 50, 89.
Suggestions for travellers, 378.
Sunset, 24.
Sunday in Brazil, 297.
Survey, lack of, 6.
Tapajoz River, 179, 375.
Tapioca, 94.
Taubaté agreement, 273.
Temperate zone, 159.
Temperature, 11.
Terra Roxa, 128, 263.
Theatres, 68, 233.
Therezopolis, 91.
Therizina, 45.
Tieté River, 9, 116, 247.
Tijuca, 79, 83, 87.
Timber, 124, 187-8, 251.
Tiradentes, 98, 313.
Tocantins River, 179, 375.
Toucan, 171.
Tramways, 72.
Transformation of Rio, 68.
Treasury, 67.
Tropical vegetation, 86.
Tropical jungle, 164-7.
Turtles, 170.
Turkey-buzzards, 178.
Uberaponga, falls of, 11.
Undeveloped resources, 124.
United States, 13, 338, 358, 360.
Uruguay, 160, 250;
war with, 320.
Uruguay River, 8, 161.
Uruguayana, Rua, 56.
Urubuhunga, falls of, 9.
Valorization, coffee, 272.
Vasari, the, 23, 360.
Vegetation, 70.
Vespucci, Amerigo, 305.
Victoria, 251, 252.
Victoria Regis lily, 86.
Villa Americana, 134.
Vines, 166.
Watercourses, 7.
Waterfalls, 8, 46.
Water power, 124.
Whaling, 27.
Women, 64, 71, 202-4.
Xarque, 157.
Xavier, Joachim, 98.
Xingu River, 179, 375.
Young Men’s Christian Association, 302.
Ypiranga, 58, 118.
[Illustration: MAP OF BRAZIL]
End of Project Gutenberg's Brazil and Her People of To-day, by Nevin O. Winter