Chap. VI. EXPENSES AT PAKA. 413 



residents, and considerable importations of money on 

 account of the steamboat company and foreign mer- 

 chants. Para, in 1848, was one of the cheapest places 

 of residence on the American continent ; it was now one 

 of the dearest. Imported articles of food, clothing, and 

 furniture were mostly cheaper, although charged with 

 duties varying from 18 to 80 per cent., besides high 

 freights and large profits, than those produced in the 

 neighbourhood. Salt codfish was twopence per pound 

 cheajDer than the vile salt pirarucu of the country. 

 Oranges, which could formerly be had almost gratis, 

 were now sold in the streets at the rate of three for a 

 penny ; large bananas were a penny each fruit ; tomatos 

 were from two to three pence each, and all other fruits 

 in this fruit-producing country had advanced in like pro- 

 portion. Mandioca-meal, the bread of the country, had 

 become so scarce and dear and bad that the poorer 

 classes of natives suffered famine, and all who could 

 afford it were obliged to eat wheaten bread at four- 

 pence to fivepence per pound, made from American 

 flour, 1200 barrels of which were consumed monthly ; 

 this was now, therefore, a very serious item of daily 

 expense to all but the most wealthy. House-rent was 

 most exorbitant ; a miserable little place of two rooms, 

 without fixtures or conveniences of any kind, having 

 simply blank walls, cost at the rate of 1SL sterling a 

 year. Lastly, the hire of servants was beyond the 

 means of all persons in moderate circumstances ; a lazy 

 cook or porter could not be had for less than three or 

 four shillings a day, besides his board and what he 

 could steal. It cost me half-a-crown for the hire of a 



