BRAZIL. 



3(3 



CL'S, and 800,000 subdued Indians ; the unsubdued 

 ians not being included. A later estimate makes 

 the number of Negro slaves 1,800,000. Malte-Brun 

 estimates the population of B. at 3,800,000 ; Hassel 

 and Humboldt, at 4,000,000. The principal rivers 

 are the Amazon, Madeira, Topayas, Xingu, Tocantins, 

 Negro, St Francisco, Paraguay, Parana, and Ura- 

 guay. 



The character of the Brazilian is not yet fully 

 developed. Within the limits of Brazil may be found 

 specimens of every degree of civilization. More en- 

 lightened minds, with greater power of self denial and 

 endurance, have been displayed nowhere than in the 

 course of the Brazilian revolutions. The mass of the 

 people, however, is destitute of education, and the crea- 

 ture of impulse. A lazy feeling of animal enjoyment 

 represses the exertions of the majority. Hunting is 

 the most active occupation of many, and of this they 

 are very fond. The following cuts represent the 

 costumes of Brazilian huntsmen. 



Towards the interior frontier, the population are said 

 to be fierce, and given to brutal excess. 



There is scarcely to be found on the globe a finer 

 country than Brazil ; one blessed with a more genial 

 climate, or a more fertile soil ; more happily diversi 

 fied with wood and water, or with abundance of 

 navigable rivers ; or more famed for its precious pro- 

 duce of gold and diamonds. It comprises within its 



limits nearly all the most valued productions of the 

 earth. Viewed from the sea, the country appears 

 rugged and mountainous ; but, on a nearer approach, 

 its appearance is highly romantic and picturesque, 

 clothed as it is with the most luxuriant vegetation, ii 

 hills covered with thick woods, and its valleys with 

 a verdure which never fades. Towards the interior, 

 the land rises, by gentle gradations, to the height of 

 from 3 to 6,000 teet above the level of the sea ; 

 and, in these temperate regions, European fruits and 

 grain are raised in abundance, while the intermediate 

 valleys are extremely favourable to the production of 

 sugar, coffee, and all kinds of tropical produce. A 

 large part of the interior is overspread with an im- 

 penetrable forest, the trees being closely interwoven 

 with brushwood and shrubs, and covered with creep- 

 ing plants, adorned with beautiful flowers, thus giving 

 a peculiar and rich appearance to the scenery. The 

 forests abound in a great variety of useful and beauti- 

 ful wood, adapted for dyeing, cabinet-work, and ship- 

 building. They contain numerous wild animals. 

 The climate, in the neighbourhood of the Amazon 

 and in the northern parts, is hot, but tempered by 

 the humidity of the air ; in the southern parts, it is 

 temperate, and generally healthy. 



Brazil has been long celebrated for gold and 

 diamonds, which abound in the higher regions of the 

 interior, and are chiefly found in the beds of the 

 mountain torrents, where the stream is most rapid. 

 Most of the streams that rise from the chain of 

 mountains which extend through the province of 

 Minas Geraes are rich, especially near their sources, 

 in gold and diamonds. The towns of St Paul, Villa 

 Rica, Cuyaba, and others in the interior, have grown 

 out of mining establishments. Tejuco is the chief 

 town of the principal diamond district. 



Brazil was discovered by Pedro Alvarez Cabral. 

 Emanuel, king of Portugal, had equipped a squadron 

 for a voyage to the East Indies, under the command 

 of Cabral. The admiral, quitting Lisbon, March 9, 

 1500, fell in accidentally, April 24, with the continent 

 of South America, which he at first supposed to be a 

 large island on the coast of Africa. In this conjecture 

 he was soon undeceived, when the natives came in 

 sight. Having discovered a good harbour, he 

 anchored his vessels, and called the bay Puerto 

 Seguro. On the next .day, he landed with a body of 

 troops, and, having erected the cross, took possession 

 of the country in the name of his sovereign, and 

 called it Santa Cruz; but the name was afterwards 

 altered by king Emanuel to that of Brazil, from the 

 red wood which the country produces. 



The Portuguese entertained, for some time, no very 

 favourable opinion of the country, not having been 

 able to find there either gold or silver ; and, accord- 

 ingly, they sent thither none but convicts, and women 

 of abandoned character. Two ships were*annially 

 sent from Portugal, to carry to the new world the 

 refuse of the human race, and to receive from thence 

 cargoes of parrots and dye-woods. Ginger was 

 afterwards added, but, in a short time, prohibited, 

 lest the cultivation of it might interfere with the sale 

 of the same article from India. In 1548, the Jews of 

 Portugal, being banished to B., procured sugar-canes 

 from Madeira, and began the cultivation of that 

 article. The court of Lisbon began to perceive that 

 a colony might be beneficial witTiout produing gold 

 or silver, and sent over a governor to regulate and 

 superintend it. This was Thomas de Souza, a wise 

 and able man. De Souza found it very difficult to 

 succeed in inducing the natives to fix on settled 

 habitations, and to submit to the Portuguese govern- 

 ment. Dissatisfaction ensued, which at length ter- 

 minated in war. De Souza did not bring with him a 

 sufficient number of men to conclude hostilities 



