CiiAr. I. KEVOLUTION OF 1835-6. 39 



channels, connected with the main rivers by narrow 

 outlets and linking together a series of lakes, some of 

 which are fifteen, twenty, and thirty miles in length. 

 The whole Amazons valley is thus covered by a network 

 of navigable waters, forming a vast inland freshwater 

 sea with endless ramifications rather than a river. 



The city of Para was founded in 1615, and was a 

 place of considerable importance towards the latter half 

 of the eighteenth century, under the government of the 

 brother of Pombal, the famous Portuguese statesman. 

 The province was the last in Brazil to declare its inde- 

 pendence of the mother country and acknowledge the 

 authority of the first emperor, Don Pedro. This was 

 owino^ to the great numbers and influence of the 

 Portuguese, and the rage of the native party was so 

 great in consequence, that immediately after inde- 

 pendence w^as proclaimed in 1823, a counter revolution 

 broke out, during which many hundred lives were lost 

 and much hatred engendered. The antagonism con- 

 tinued for many years, partial insurrections taking place 

 when the populace thought that the immigrants from 

 Portugal were favoured by the governors sent from the 

 capital of the empire. At length, in 1835, a serious 

 revolt took place which in a short time involved the 

 entire province. It began by the assassination of the 

 President and the leading members of the government ; 

 the struggle was severe, and the native party in an evil 

 hour called to their aid the ignorant and fanatic 

 mongrel and Indian population. The cry of death to 

 the Portuguese was soon changed to death to the free- 

 masons, then a powerfully -organised society embracing 



