Chai'. I. THE PKOVINCE OF PAKA. 37 



weeks more than four per cent, of the population.* One 

 disease after another succeeded, until in 18.55 the 

 cholera swept through the country and caused fearful 

 havoc. Since then, the healthfulness of the climate 

 has been gradually restored, and it is now fast recover- 

 ing its former good reputation. Para is free from serious 

 endemic disorders, and was once a resort of invalids 

 from New York and Massachusetts. The equable tem- 

 perature, the perpetual verdure, the coolness of the 

 dry season when the sun's heat is tempered by the 

 strong sea-breezes and the moderation of the periodical 

 rains, make the climate one of the most (Enjoyable on 

 the face of the earth. 



The province is governed, like all others in the 

 empire, by a President, as chief civil authority. At 

 the time of our arrival he held also, exceptionally, the 

 chief military command. This functionary, together 

 Avith the head of the police administration and the 

 judges, is nominated by the central Government at 

 Rio Janeiro. The municipal and internal affairs are 

 managed by a provincial assembly elected by the 

 people. Every villa or borough throughout the pro- 

 vince also possesses its municipal council^ and in 

 thinly-populated districts, the inhabitants choose every 

 four years a justice of the peace who adjudicates in 

 small disputes between neighbours. A system of 

 popular education exists, and every village has its 

 school of first letters, the master being paid by the 



* Eelatorio of the President, Jeronjono Francisco Coelho, 1850. 

 From January 1 to July 31, 1850, 12,000 persons, in the city of Para 

 alone, fell ill out of a population of 16,000, but only 506 died. 



