66 A JOURNEY EN BRAZIL. 



and the heaviest trunks or barrels, piled one on top of 

 the other, or bales of sugar and coffee weighing hundreds 

 of pounds, moving about the streets on the heads of the 

 negroes. The result of this is that their limbs often 

 become crippled, and it is common to see negroes in the 

 prime of life who are quite crooked and maimed, and 

 can hardly walk without a stick to lean upon. In justice 

 I must add, however, that this practice, though it shocks 

 a stranger even now, is gradually disappearing. We are 

 told that a few years ago there were hardly any baggage- 

 wagons except these living ones, and that the habit of 

 using the blacks in this way is going out of vogue. In 

 this as in other matters the Emperor's opinions are those 

 of an enlightened and humane man, and were his power ' 

 equal to his will, slavery would vanish from his dominions 

 at once. He is, however, too wise not to know that all 

 great social changes must be gradual ; but he openly 

 declares his abhorrence of the system.* 



But to return from this digression to the road of the 

 Union and Industry Company. It is now completed as 

 far as Juiz de Fora, affording every convenience for the 

 transport of the rich harvest of coffee constantly travelling 

 over it from all the fazendas in the region. As the whole 

 district is very rich in coffee-plantations, the improvement 

 in the means of transportation is of course very im- 

 portant to the commercial interests of the country, and 



* Since this was written the Emperor, at a large pecuniary sacrifice, has 

 liberated all the slaves belonging to the property of the crown, and a general 

 scheme of emancipation has been announced by the Brazilian government, 

 the wisdom, foresight, and benevolence of which can hardly be too highly 

 praised. If this be adopted, slavery in Brazil will disappear within the 

 century by a gradual process, involving no violent convulsion, and perilling 

 neither the safety of the slave nor the welfare of his master. 



