514 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 
pendent of all government influence, consisting of Bra- 
zilians, Portuguese, Germans, Swiss, Americans, French, &c. 
The objects of this society, of which Mr. Tavares Bastos is 
one of the most influential members, are, first, to reform 
the constitution in all which may place the foreigner at a 
disadvantage ; second, to redress the wrongs of the emi- 
grants ; third, to provide them with such assistance and 
information as they may need on arriving. This society 
has been in existence only two years, but has already 
rendered valuable services. It is to be hoped that the 
government will persevere in the liberal course it has 
entered upon, and, above all, put an end to the unnecessary 
legal formalities by which the emigrant is prevented from 
taking immediate possession of his new home. This is 
especially important in the region of the Amazons, where 
the new-comer finds none of those facilities which welcome 
the emigrant in the United States. I cannot too often 
repeat, also, that all monopoly of transport in the Amazons 
should speedily be abolished. As soon as the wild prod- 
ucts of its shores are subjected to a regular culture, even 
of a very imperfect kind, and are no longer gathered at 
random, - - as soon as organized labor, directed by an in- 
telligent activity, takes the place of the thoughtless and 
uncertain efforts of the Indians, the variety and excellence 
of its staples will be increased beyond all expectation. As 
it is, a little foresight would prevent an immense deal of 
suffering in this fertile region, where food abounds and 
people die of hunger. Accustomed to live upon fish, the 
natives make little use either of milk or meat, and the fine 
pasturage which might maintain herds of cattle is allowed 
to run to waste. Careless of the inclemency of the weather 
when gathering the harvest of the forest, they scarcely 
