Chap. II. BRAZILIAN MONEY. 75 



generally more liberal. At one period, when I was 

 obliged to wait for remittances from England,* I some- 

 times ran short of money ; but I had only to say a word 

 to one of these generous and considerate men, and the 

 assistance was given without interest to the extent I 

 required. The current money on the Amazons varied 

 much during the eleven years of my stay. At first, 

 nothing but copper coins and Brazilian treasury notes, 

 the smallest representing 1000 reis (2s. 3d), were seen ; 

 afterwards (1852 — 1856), with the increase of the India- 

 rubber trade, a large amount of specie was imported, — 

 American gold coins, Spanish and Mexican dollars, and 

 English sovereigns. These were the commonest medium 

 of exchange in Para and on the Lower Amazons, until 

 India-rubber fell suddenly in price, in 1855, when the 

 gold again quickly disappeared. About the year 1857, 

 new silver coin, issued by the Brazilian Government, 

 was introduced ; elegant pieces of money of convenient 

 values, answering nearly to our sixpenny, shilling, and 

 two shilling pieces. Neither gold, silver, nor paper, 

 however, was of much use on a journey like the one I 

 had now undertaken. All travellers on the branch 

 rivers have to carry cloth, cashaca, and small wares, to 

 exchange for produce or food with the Indians ; a small 

 quantity of copper money, the only coin whose value is 

 understood amongst the remote settlers, being never- 

 theless necessary to balance exchanges. When I had to 



* I take this opportunity of mentioning my obligations to Mr. George 

 Brocklehurst, of the Para" firm, by whom, during the latter years of my 

 travels in the interior, my wants were attended to in the promptest 

 and kindest manner. 



