VI 68 Voyage of the Novara. 



tracle,* maybe considered by this circumstance approaching its 

 termination. 



As the Government became convinced that there was not 

 the least hope of reaping any advantage from civilizing 

 the aboriginal tribes, it had recourse to free immigration, and 

 promoted it in every way.t It endeavoured, particularly in 

 the warmer northern provinces, to replace the deficiency of 

 negroes by Chinese Coolies, who were imported from different 

 parts of China ; but they could not stand the climate, and were 

 not found capable of advantageously replacing the negro in his 

 various and often very heavy labour. This partially arose 

 from the indiscriminate selection of the immigrants, as the 

 agents, when they could not obtain able-bodied men, did not 

 scruple to make up their cargo with whatever came to 

 hand. 



The Government pays, therefore, the utmost attention to 

 European immigration ; it has agents in Portugal, France, 

 Italy, Belgium, and especially in Germany ; and endeavours to 



* Declaration des puissances sur 1' abolition de la traite dcs negi-es, du 8 Fe-\Tier, 

 1815. L. Neumann, Recueil des traitcs et conventions conclus par TAuti-iclie (Leip« 

 zig, 1850. Vol. 11., p. 502). 



f It may be useful, however, on many accounts to observe, that the Brazihan 

 Government take considerable pains to adapt tliis doomed race for a civilized mode 

 of existence. A law of 19th Sei)tember, 1855, assigned an annual sum of £6000 for 

 the proper execution of tliis humane project. In order to remedy the very marked 

 deficiency of suitable missionaries, the Government, through its representative in 

 Paris, invited a number of Cathohc j)riest3 fi-om France — men, whose rearhig and 

 zeal for their faith had eflfected such marvels among the Indians of Canada. But 

 the aborigines of Brazil seem hopelessly degraded, and are destined, after having 

 filled their appointed place in the history of nations, to mixke room for a more ener- 

 getically endowed race. 



