300 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



CUBIC MEASURE. 



0-9976 English Quarts 7 



' ~ s T n I = I -io litres = I Prato. 



2494 Eng. Imp. Gall, j 



I '9 English Quarts = 2*13 = i'94 = I Medida. 



1 English Peck = 9-0675 ,, = 8-24 ,, = 4*25 ,, = I Quarto. 



I English Bushel nearly = 36*27 ,, = 32-96 = 17 ,, = I Alquiere. 



WINE MEASURE. 



I Barril = 21 Litres = 4-63 Gallons. 



AVOIRDUPOIS. 



i Libra Brasileira = 1-03 Pounds. 

 I Aroba = 16 Kilos. = 35-2 Pounds. 

 65 Tonnelades = 65,000 Kilos. = 64 English Tons. 



WEIGHTS FOR DIAMONDS. 



4 Graos = i Quilate. 

 24 ,, =6 ,, =i Escrupulo. 

 72 ,, = 18 =3 =i Oitava. 



i Oitava == i^g- Drachm Avoirdupois. 

 104 Oitavas = I Pound Troy. 



Captain Burton * gives a list of " the old Portuguese gold 

 weights still preserved." They are used in gold mining. 



' ' 2 J Grains = 

 5 Vintens = 

 32 Vintens = 

 8 Oitavas = 

 8 Ounces = 

 2 Marcos = 



Vintem. 



Tostao or Tustao. 



Oitava (= i-jL Drachm Avoirdupois). 



On$a or Ounce. 



Marco. 



Pound." 



A slight discrepancy will be observed between this table and 

 the preceding, as in the former 72 graos make up the oitava, while 

 in the latter 80 grains are specified. It may be that the grains are 

 not the same as the graos ; but as to this I have no information. 



THE DECIMAL SYSTEM. 



The question as to whether England should introduce the 

 decimal or metric system is one which is much debated. It is 

 asserted that our present mode of reckoning is fragrantly un- 

 scientific. I cannot deal with the subject in detail, but may 

 state that I consider the metre as a standard to be far too large. 

 The foot is much more convenient. 



* " Highlands of Brazil," vol. i. p. 205. 



