BRAZIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 115, 23 May 1885, Page 4

BRAZIL.

A Visit to Rio Janeiro.

A Remarkable and Little - Known Country.

(SPEOFAL CORRESPONDENT AUCKLAND STAR.)

The Eni])eior of Brn2il

I cannot omit to mnko a low observations about the romnrkablo Emporor of Brazil. Called to tho t Uronc more than half-n-contury ago, whon but six years of ago, it is to him that Brazil owes hor freedom from thoso revolutions which form tho chief occupation of tho other South American people. Eithor intellectually or physically considered, tho Emperor is surpassod by vory few of his subjects, ilo spoaks English porfoctly, and has a knowlodgo of all tho Europoun languages ; ho i.n an activo student of geology, astronomy, minoralogy, and sovoral other sciences. Among his visits to England, one has been incognito, and lie is an admiror of both English customs and character. Over six foot in height, ho .stands like a veritable Saul among his subjects. His position is no sinecure. At his lovoos, he denies access to nono, receives petitions, and listens courteously to any request or communications made by a subjoct or stranger. Any who fancy themselves denied justico do not hositato to go at once and lay their caso boforo tho Emporor. An attentive hoaring ia always accorded, notes aretakon by tho secretary, and tho case forwarded for tho Minister's attention. Whon tho British emigrants arrived in Urny.il, thoy woro wolcomod by tho Emporor in person.

Thcro is no aristocracy in Brazil, but tho titles are non-hereditary, and die with those on whom they are lirst bestowed. In some —butquito n minority—of cases, they are bostowod on tho son. Tit Icm, however, are not well supported by thuir owners, and aro easily bought, although at present tho num'bor does not oxeeod ">UO of all ranks ; 2;">0 aro Barons, and there mo but SO holding higher titles. There is, besides, tho ordorof " Commendador " or " Knight," and this title is owned by about 50. Tho aristocracy of Brazil includes sovcral Englishmen. A Brazilian Carnival During tho many public holidays that occurred. I hud many opportunities of observing the character of a Brazilian mob, but especially during tho Carnival, which, as all acquainted with Catholic countries arc aware, is a festival allowed very groat latitude, Tho pooplo wore well behaved and ordorly to a striking degree. I'lonty of wator-squirting, lomonthrowing and laughter, but no pushing, lighting or swearing. Tho disorder of tho whole time would not bo approaching that which may bo observed in any one of tho London parks on a public holiday, Tho simple explanation of this lies in tho fact that tho Brazilians are not addicted to drink. No long list of oflondors appear before tho magistrates tho day following a holiday, and tho intimacy botwoen drink and crime is horo strikingly apparent, whore a people of lower and less onlightoned instincts exhibit a far bettor character than the more onlightenod but drink-ad-dictod lowor classos of England. Both tho Brazilians and Portuguese dosorvo a much bettor character than thoy aro credited with. With regard to tho formor lot mo quoto tho testimony of an eighteen yoars' resident in Brazil:— " Puritans of ovory doscription would find amongst tho clergy (?) and peoplo of this country many virtues worthy of imitation. Vices undoubtedly they havo, but aro not considered as such, or at best aro hold to be very venial one.-'. Owing to the bonovolont disposition of tho peoplo, pauperism is unknown. . , . Drunkennessisalsounknown.aswellasdijhonosty." These remarks, by Mr Wm. Scully (author of "Brazil: its Cities and Provinces ") can be more or less endorsod by all who havo lived among tho Brazilians. Brazil is tho paradise of the Portuguese, and tho thousands that yearly tlock into tho country havo oarned tho reputation of being^ an industrious and law-abiding peoplo. Tho Portujjuoso, howovor, aro densely ignorant, and ontortain tho most infatuated ideas concerning tho importanco of that most backward and stick-in-the-mud of all European kingdoms -Portugal.

Slavory and Work on Plantations,

Although slavery baa been nominally abolished in Brazil, moro than a million slaves are still existing, Undor pranuro of the common indignation of all civilised nations, the Brazilian Senate passed a bill in IS7I gratuitously froaingthonoxt generation of slavos whon they should arrivo at tho ago of 21. Those illustrious legislators, carefully conserving slavery during their own time, claim tho honour of having abolished slavery in Brar.il by saddling tho whole dillicultyof tho question upon posterity. The work of emancipation, however, is rapidly going on by other moans. Tho Emperor directly oncouruges thoso who gratuitously emancipate thoir slaves by the bestowal of titles and marks of favour. Numbers are ouabloil to purchase thoir own froodom, and thus tho slave population is yearly decreasing. Lut it not bo supposed, however, that tho slaves of Brazil aro illtreated ;on tho contrary, they receive tho mosthumano treatmont. In tho plantations they aro niado to work generally for live days in tho wook only, for about twelvo hours a day. Sunday they aro allowed for rost, and Saturday is given them cithor to work for their master and bo paid, or, what is moro gonoral, to work on a pioco of land given them by thoir master.* for themselves, the products of which thoy aro allowed to noil whoro and how thoy pleaso. Many are thus enabled to purchaso their own freedom, but tho majority transform their monoy into articles of personal adornmont for display on tho Sunday. Chapols aro attached to most of the planters' losidoncos, which tho slaves havo touttondon appointed occasions, and in many places short services of prayer and song aro hold daily, either in tho morning or evening. Tho Latin prayer nerves to instil a little awe into the simple mind of the untaught nogro, but tho singing, though terribly loud, is far from unpleasant. Tho vesper boll is tolled at six o'clock, morning and evoning. During the ovonings nopro women somotimos attend tho chapel singing and chanting for hours. Tho signs, symbols, motions, and mystic character of tho Roinnn Catholicservicoshavetho greatesteiToct upon the negro mind, and it is chiefly owing to priestly influence that implicit obedience to their masters is insurod. It is surprising in what a varioty of ways the sorvice.s of the nogro aro used in tho plantation. A Brazilian baron, while showing me over his large sugar plantation, pointed out a dozen different occupations ho had taught his blacks. His excellont residonce was built entirely by negro labour undor a Portuguoso master, and among his slave mechanical artisans were: carpenters, brick and tilo makers.blucksmitha, wheelmakers, sawyers, and masons. The slavos, as a rnlo, are very well fod, and ar6 allowed two suits of clothes a year for their clothing, but no ono suffers from the cold in Brazil. In tho towns slave-owners let out their slaves for hiro. Tho man goes to work ns a labouror, and generally earns from £G to £8 a month, out of which he has to keep himself, and usually pays his owner £3 of it. Female slaves in ii io occupy tho samo position as the maidof all-work in England. They live in tho houso and oarn^from £3 to £3 10s a month. Out of this they are allowed 10», and tho owner finds tho clothing. Until education becomes gonoral in Brazil, the slaves thomselves will seldom understand how thoy aro bettered by emancipation, and those already freed in the plantations work on, undor the same master, precisely as before. Civilisation in Brazil is of a superficial character; while all thojextornal polish lias been eagorly embraced, there is a groat lack of foundation and material progress. No attempt is made to enlighten the masses, and social morality, owing to tho mixture of races, is at a veiy low ebb. Tho following tables will convoy to tho reader somo conception of the actual condition of affairs. Population of Brazil. Race. Race. Male. | Female. Free. Slave. White .. 1,933.957 ! 1,780,562 3,710.519 - Mulatto 1,853,809 ,' 1,825.197 3,232.1152 4-1G,05J Black .. 1,018,172 j 906,0'.1l 891,100 1,030,513 Indian.. 197,30(5 | 182,673 379,979 - Civil and Social. Civil State. j Religion. Married. Single. Cath'lics. Others Free .. 2,191,271 0,042,310 8,195,81)7 27,723~ Slavs.. 131.241 1.315.32H Clas3ed as Catholics. Educational. ible to From Able to' Read Illito- Gto 15 Read : Illiteand rate, y'rs of and I rate. Write. age. Write. I Free 1,560,7G8 G.CC2.802 Boys 133,165 i 753.2)2 lave 1.335J 1,475,229 Girls _9<i,B!» !_76B,m_ ■ The total civilised population as given by the Central Directory of Statistics in 1875 numbered 9,700,187. At the present time, however, the total population of Brazil cannot be less than 14,000,000. In addition to the natural increase of nine years, and. the arrival during that time of near a KliUipn emigrants, there arp a million and

a half of untamed Indians to be added, with numbers of others in tho backwoods and places where no statistics can reach. It will be observed that not 20 per cent of tho entire population can road or write, and that a lees proportion of the rising generation are eubjoct to instruction. Bray.iliiin morality is not mucli worse thtin most Catholic countries, but tho country ia no- ■ torious for a priesthood of tho most ignorant and licentious typo. Mr Scully thus attempts, to oxplaii: their condition :— " a Brazilian priont is such aa ho is made : a» long as he performs a cortain sot; of eei\ monies, ho considers he has done his duty!" . , . "so it can bo said that tho vicos of the clergy proceed from hearts too allectionate, matured with a ripeness too excessive for the inhabitants of colder climates to understand, or duly estimate" Thcso remarks, aimod at their protection, Hulliciontly roveal their degraded character. So oppressive aro their exactions for tho performance of tho marriago coromony, that the majority of the poorer olassos are deprived from over undergoing this rite. The Commerce of Brazil. Lot mo now say n few words about commerce and tho general prospects of things iii Brazil. It will be remembered that bodios of emigrants loft England in ISO.'*, 1871, and IST'- for tho southern provinces of the Empire. Owing to tho unreliable and impotent character of tho Brazilian Government — which I may horo ."ay if the great rock upon which all progress stumbles in Brazil- successive shiploads of emigrants woro shipped into a desolate forest whero nono of the provisions, utensils, and accommodation awaited their urrival (is promised. The most disastrous consoquonces followed. Tho emigrants snllored great privation ; somo woro carried oil' by fevers, and cases of actual starvation occurred. Severe remonstrances woro made to the Brazilian Administration by the British Ambassador. None of tho obligations, however, ontorcd into with the emigrants wore ever fullillud, and the latter, with very few exceptions, embraced the first opportunity of leaving tlm country. It should he said, however, that Brazil i.s not a suitablo fiold for British emigration. Two causes strongly operate against it. One ia the abundance of both cheap free and slave labour. The other : tho land is all wooded, and a man could not cloar single-handed a comfortable settlement in a lifetime. Tho " llanos "or grassy plains of tho Argentine Republic aro tho only placos where British settlors havo really done woll in .South Amorica. As tho educated class in Brazil, howovor, in a small one, good and lucrative nponirgs ofton occur in all the largo cities for such as well-educated clerks, engineers, and skilled mechanics.

Tho Cultivation of Tropical Products, to which noiuiy tho wholo of Brazil is dovoted, is .such for which tho European has noither aptitudo nor experionco. In tho Amazonian or equatorial district, the chief product is india-rubber. The export of this articlo shows an annual incroaso of .'!0 per cent., and has a promising future, but tho district is unhoalthy to Europeans. The centre and by far tho greatest of the cultivated portions of Brazil aro laid out in coffee plantations, which aro tho largest in the world. Out of tho (iuO.OOO'tons of eotl'uo annually consumed in tho world, Brazil supplies -100,000 tons. This is tho great staplo produce of tho country, and forms four-fifths of tho viiluo of tko total exports of tho Empire. Although Brazil trades moro with England than with all other nations combined, the English, it would appear, are among tho least of eolloodrinking peoples. The Status consumes tho most, whom about 180,000 tone are annually imported. Germany takes 110,01)0 tons, Franco 00,000 tons," Turkoy 20,000 tons, and Groat Britain L'S.OOO ! This consumption is not of Brazilian codec alone, but from all sources. Tho cultivation of cotton and sugar, e?pocially tho lattor, is rapidly increasing in Brazil, whilo that of coll'eo has probably reached its maximum. In the southern provinces, coroals and tho products of tho tomporato zono aro raised, but tko chiof item of export is " xarquo," or driod beef. This dried beef callod " carno socca " is exported to every part of Brazil, and with " feijao»,"or black boans, forms tho national food of the Brazilians, and in many parts of tho interior littlo olso is eaten. Within tho last 50 years a nourishing colony of 100,000 Gormans has grown up in tho lino province of Rio (Jrando do Sul. Those aro tho only colonists out of scores of various attempts that have .succoeded in Brazil. Thoy wero selected from tho poorest of Gorman peasants.

Wliilo Rpouldng of Brazilian produco, I pliimlil montion that sncli produce is in no way raisod by thu onorgios and o.vortionaof tho Brazilians thotnsolves. A Brazilinn works not, nor will ho work, nnd is almost entirely devoid of tho spirit of ontorpriso. Tho india-rubber of tho north is collortod from tho trees by tho Indiana: tho cofl'oo, cotton, ami .sugar of tho contro is planted, picked and prepared by the negroes; and tho produce of tho south is raised l>y (.ionium colonists and Spanish vdnnwo* mill /units. Tho retail trade of tho cities in in tho hands of tho l'ortugupso, and tho wholesale merchants tiro chiefly Kngiish. Commorco is burdened by a paper currency, always Huctnat intf, and generally-ij por cent below par, and which acts very oppressively on tho tnulo of tho country. Want of an Activo People, Brazil in boynnd doubt it rich country, hut until tlio indolent though goner OUH Brazilian can bo aroused, tho C'}inmoruinl|^dillicultiott of tho country, groat already, are bound to increase. Thus, while tho .yearly value of Brazilian e\ ports is not more than 20 millions starling, Australia, for instance, with one-fourth tho population, exports double tho value of this sum. Tho Brazilian budget yearly shows a delicit, and rocourso is made to loan?. About a third of tho rovonuogoos to support a swarm of unnecessary (iovornmont ollicials—connections of presont, nnd past ministers, Tho liuancial position of privato individuals is in much tho same condition as that of the Government Tho estates of .tlio planters, as arulo.arohoavily mortgaged. Thoso that possoss regular or stated incomes moro ofton try to live over than under their moans, whilo the poorer classos invost most of thoir savings in lottories. Under Much circumstances prosperity is impossible, and unless early roform (unfortunately very improbablo) takes place, the country is likoly to sink still deoporin the mire. A word about lottories. Whilo, during tho last 10 years, £1,200,000 has been deposited by tho pooplo in saving banks, moro than six timosthissum, or £7,500,000, lias boon spont in lotteries. Thousands in Brnzil invest all thoir savings in lotteries, in tho hopo of one day getting ono of tho prizes of fortuno. 25 por cent of tho amount subscribed is absorbed in oxponsos and tax on tho lottery; this amonnt is thoroforo a doad loss to tho people. Tho fortunate one.", on rocoiving their prizes, usually mako for Europe, to spond or invost their newly-acquired fortuno—whichever way, it is a loss to Brazil But notwithstanding tho gigantic scale of this public impoverishment of tho country and demoralisation of the people, tho Government, by its very act of imposing a tax (inntoad of a prohibition) legalises such proceedings.

The Government of Brazil

is on much the samo !basis as that of England before tho pawing of tho Reform Bill of 1832. Tho franchise, in many doctoral districts, dooa not extend to 1 por cent, of the population ! Therois a lower house of 133 deputies elected overy 4 years, and an upper house of 08 Sonators olocted for life. The administration of tho country if), howover, carried on most unfortunately. Tho Emporor, liko most constitutional monarchs, " can do no wrong." Ministerial crises occur every few months. Now a minister gets in who think it of great impmrtanco to keep up tho fortification of tho ports. Hence, quantities of guns are ordered from England. By the time of thoir arrival, another minister is in power, whose hobby will bo tho paying of assisted passages for Italian emigrants. On the arrival of these, a third party is in office whoso cry is economy. Hence, tho aforesaid guns aro shipped off at about the price of old iron, the emigrant businoss repudiated, and the amount duo to tho contractors for bringing tho emigrants refused payment. Remonstrance ultimately brings this Ministry to its senses, which then gives place to another ; and so on. These crises, howover, are a degreo abovo revolutions, which would bo tho caso in many of the neighbouring countries of Brazil. In one department of science-that of medicine—Brazil has achieved some distinction. Specifics have been found for tho bites of many kinds of Brazilian snakes But the latest aud most interesting discovery is a process of vaccination for the prevention of yellow fevor, which is now being largely experimented upon the people of Rio. A parasite termed "microbio zanthogenico " is found to inhabit tho systom as soon as fever-strioken, against which inoculation has proved successful in tho case of fowls and animals. The result on the human body, however, cannot be fully estimated till the close of the present unhealthy season. Yellow fever, however, has greatly deereasod in Brazil during late years. During the first half of 1883, the mortality of Eio comprised 7,741 deaths. Yellow fever carried 01T1,163, "otherfevers"

736, and consumption with other diseases of the respiratory organs 1622 The males were double the females, a third were under 7, another third from 7 to 35 years of ago, and the remainder over 35. Tho climate of Brazil iB generally healthy, while very pleasant in the south ; at times it in hot,and at places subject to fever within the tropics. In Rio, tho thermometer frequently rises in tho hot season to 05 Fahr. at mid-day in the shade.

To conclude, whatever the failings of tho Brazilians may bo as a commercial or industrious peoplo, (horo is no country in tho world whore an Englishman can bo rocoived with groater cordiality and hospitality than in Brazil. Everyone seems delighted to be able to render you a service, f travelling in the intorior, though quite unknown, you will receive from thofazendoiros tho most cordial welcome. You will bo prossed to stay as long as you can, und on rosuming "your journey, will bo rendered every possible assistance Any attempt at remuneration will immediately give offonco. Tho country i« froe from both robbers and cut-hroats,and the peoplo everywhere will be found,to be uniformly gonorous, gay, polio, and obliging. To the tourist or student, a richor field of interest than Brazil could not bo found, The scenery is of the most beautiful that nature can render. Both the flora and fauna are of the most interesting and varied type. Although, internal communications aro bad, railroads aro now open to several parts of the intorior. The surroundings of Kin do Janeiro alone, whereovory civilised comfort can boobtained, form somo of tho most beautiful spota that can bo !-een, and enjoy a climate oqual to anything that can bo experienced in Italy. Very low travellers indeed who would give Brazil a visit could return without being inteiestpd and charmed in a high degree. Robkkt 11. Abbott.