48 On the Navigaticyn of the Maranon or Amazwis. 



had no difficulties to encounter. No country, however rich, 

 is brought from a state of nature into cuhivation without 

 overcoming difficulties, a point that appears not to have been 

 sufficiently considered by settlers in general, and especially by 

 English settlers, the consequences of which have been disappoint- 

 ment, and sometimes destruction. His family had been fortu- 

 nate in the choice of their position, and there are undoubtedly 

 numerous positions in those regions, that might be brought into 

 cultivation, with less difficulty than in most other countries, and, 

 in a lucrative point of view, would repay exertions better. But 

 still there are difficulties. Musquitoes, ants, and other insects, 

 are in general troublesome ; wild beasts, reptiles, and alligators, 

 have to be destroyed, although, upon the whole, they are not so 

 dangerous as they are generally supposed to be. The rains du- 

 ring a particular season are very heavy, and there are not the 

 same conveniencies of communication as in old civilized coun- 

 tries, although the water communication of the Maranon and its 

 tributaries affords great facility. 



It is not impossible, and perhaps not improbable, that the pro- 

 vinces of Maranon and Para may separate from the rest of Bra- 

 zil. Previous to the Royal family going over from Portugal, these 

 provinces had a separate governor-general, owing to the distance 

 and difficulty of communication between them and Rio Janeiro, 

 which indeed amounts to a barrier. When we were in the 

 country, one of the principal persons we met, remarked, that the 

 province of Para was large enough to form an empire, or have 

 a government of its own. In point of extent, such is certainly 

 the case, but the province of Para is at present far behind in po- 

 pulation and civilization. Was it not for the jealousy which un- 

 fortunately for both parties has sprung up between the Portu- 

 guese and Brazilians, Portugal and Para might still derive mu- 

 tual advantages from communication. There is room enough 

 in the immense unappropriated regions of Para for all the Por- 

 tuguese in Europe to locate themselves, without injury or incon- 

 venience to the present inhabitants. Europeans must, however, 

 remember that the South Americans will no longer submit to 

 the arbitrary domineering measures that have been exercised to- 

 wards them. The title of " Mea branco" is indeed still con- 

 sidered too much an authority for exercising outrages on those 



2 



