20 BRAZILIAN COTTON 



The railwajT^s of Brazil were originally established with the purpose 

 of bringing the products of a contributing interior territory to the 

 nearest seaport and of distributing to the interior the merchandise 

 brought in from abroad. On the Atlantic coast, Recife (Pernambuco) 

 is the focus of one system, Sao Salvador (Bahia) of another, Rio de 

 Janeiro of a third; Sao Paulo and Santos (the coffee region) of a fourth, 

 and Rio Grande do Sul, in the extreme south, of a fifth system. In 

 recent years the Government has felt the great need of connecting 

 these various systems by interior railways running north and south, 

 both to afford interior communication independent of the ocean and 

 to stimulate an internal commerce and settlement. This jDlan has 

 been successful north and south of Recife, so that to-day it is possible 

 to travel by rail between the ports of Natal and Maceio, in like manner 

 Rio de Janeiro has been connected \vith Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, 

 and Rio Grande do Sul, and also with the growing port of Victoria, 

 north of the capital. South of Sao Paulo, through the States of 

 Parana, Santa Catharina, and Rio Grande do Sul, toward the Uru- 

 guayan frontier, connection is established between the lines in these 

 States and those of Uruguay, so that it is possible to travel by rail 

 from Rio de Janeiro to Montevideo, a total length of 1,967 miles 

 (3,165 kilometres). The Federal capital as well as the larger cities are 

 served by electric street cars. The many streams in the Republic are 

 capable of furnishing an enormous power for electrical purposes, and it 

 is definitely decided to electrify certain portions of the railway lines 

 already in existence. ("Brazil" Pan American Union, Washington D.C.) - 



Characteristics of Brazilians. — Before concluding this chapter 

 on the geography of Brazil it may be advisable to cite some of my im- 

 pressions of the characteristics of the people. 



The Mohammedan influence on the Portuguese is more strikingly 

 noticeable in the interior of Brazil than in Portugal, especially in the 

 home life and in the attitude towards women. Family life is a great 

 institution in the country ; near and distant relatives, rich and poor, 

 frequently share the same house, indeed a wealthy Brazilian will consider 

 it an honour to help his or his wife's poor relations, just as is the case 

 in the Orient. Hospitality to relative or stranger reigns supreme in Brazil. 



Brazilians are a very sober race, exceptionally little drunkenness 

 is seen in town or country. 



The Brazilian workman, under suitable guidance, is good ; he 

 picks up easily anything properly explained to him and though at 

 times given to indolence, employers generally are quite satisfied with 

 the labour. It would seem to me, judging from our long motoring 

 experience, that the ordinary Brazilian has a bent for mechanics, for 

 in almost every village one is sure to find someone able to drive a 

 Ford car and what is more, able to take it to pieces and put it together 

 again. Brazilians, as a rule, are excellent drivers of motor-cars. 



As regards business capabilities, there are two extremes, one very 

 active, eager and enthusiastic, frequently too much so, and the other 

 indolent, phlegmatic, similar to the Mohammedan ancestors who came 

 to Portugal from the North African coast. There is hardly any distinct 

 section between these two classes. It is probably due to the want of 

 continued application and cool commercial intelligence that many 

 Europeans are engaged in commerce in Brazil. The many lotteries 



