Chap. I. EDUCATION. 11 



in small canoes to trade on the rivers and collect the 

 produce, and the cargoes are shipped to the capital in 

 large cubertas and schooners, of from twenty to eighty 

 tons burthen. The risk and profits must be great, or 

 capital scarce, for the rate of interest on lent money or 

 ovefdue accounts is two-and-a-half to three per cent, per 

 month ; this is the same, however, as that which rules at 

 Para, The shops are numerous, and well-stocked with 

 English, French, German, and North American wares ; 

 the retail prices of which are veiy little above those of 

 the capital. There is much competition amongst the 

 traders and shopkeepers, yet they all seem to thrive, if 

 one may judge from external appearances; but it is 

 said, that most of them are over head and ears in debt 

 to rich Portuguese merchants of Para, who act as their 

 correspondents. 



The people seem to be thoroughly alive to the advan- 

 tages of education for their children. Besides the usual 

 primary schools, one for girls, and another for boys, 

 there is a third of a higher class, where Latin and 

 French, amongst other accomplishments, are taught by 

 professors, who, like the oommon schoolmasters, are paid 

 by the provincial government. This is used as a pre- 

 paratory school to the Lyceum and Bishop's seminary, 

 well-endowed institutions at Para, whither it is the 

 ambition of traders and planters to send their sons to 

 finish their studies. The rudiments of education only 

 are taught in the primary schools, and it is surprising 

 how quickly and well the little lads, both coloured and 

 white, learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. But the 

 simplicity of the Portuguese language, which is written 



