HISTORY OF BRAZIL 21 



that exist seem to have created a speculative instinct not only among 

 the commercial men, but also among the other classes. 



The enthusiastic Brazilian does not lack in enterprise, nor in 

 initiative ; he takes a long view of things, spends money easily, but 

 is perhaps at times given to over-trading. The worker in the country 

 is frugal and knows no luxuries, whilst for the inhabitants of Rio de 

 Janeiro or Sao Paulo no finery or comfort is too much. Probably 

 Rio de Janeiro can boast that there is no other city so beautifully 

 situated and that in no European town is so much attention given 

 to dress by men as well as women. 



French customs seem to prevail in Rio and many Brazilians 

 speak French, but of late English has come to the fore in commercial 

 quarters ; many Brazilians have attended universities in Germany. 

 In these travels it has often been brought home to me how short- 

 sighted universities and schools are by charging double fees to 

 foreigners, for there is a sympathy, a bond of friendship and esteem 

 created in the heart of the foreign student towards all those con- 

 nected with the place from whence be obtained his learning, such 

 as no diplomat nor commercial traveller has the power to produce. 



HISTORY OF BRAZIL* 



Pedro Alvares Cabral, a Portuguese navigator, is usually given 

 the credit of having discovered Brazil, when, on April 22, 1500, he 

 landed not far from the present site of the city of Sao Salvador 

 (generally known in Europe as the city of Bahia). Cabral named 

 the country " Terra de Santa Cruz," or " Land of the Holy Cross," 

 and took possession of it in the name of the King of Portugal. In 

 April, 1549, Thome de Souza, the first Governor-General landed in 

 Brazil. The country had then become known as Brazil from the red 

 dyewood in its forests, which, at that time, was brought from the East 

 and was commercially known as " Brazil wood." 



The Portuguese Crown divided the country, making grants of land 

 to Portuguese nobles, who were to settle and colonize and who received 

 a number of Indian slaves in addition to the land. With Thome de 

 Souza came the first Jesuits, who succeeded in obtaining complete 

 control over the aborigines. To prevent the Indians being enslaved 

 by the colonists, the Jesuits recommended and fostered the importa- 

 tion of African slaves during the next two centuries. 



Between the years 1555 and 1640, the country suffered numerous 

 invasions from the French^ Dutch and Britisli, who sought to gain a 

 foothold on Brazilian soil. In the former year Admiral Villegaignon 

 established a colony of French Huguenots on an island in the Bay of 

 Rio de Janeiro, which island now bears his name. He maintained 

 himself there until the year 1560. The Dutch, in the year 1631, took 

 possession of Pernambuco and gradually extended their power over a 

 great portion of Brazil. Prince Maurice of Nassau was appointed gover- 

 nor of the Dutch possessions in Brazil in 1636 ; it Avas not until the 

 year 1648 that the Dutch were finally forced to abandon the country. 



In 1640 Brazil became a viceroyalty, with Rio de Janeiro as 

 capital. When, early in the nineteenth century, Napoleon invaded 

 Portugal, the ruler of the latter country Dom Joao, wisely retired to 



* A good deal of this information \\&9. been taken from a small pamphlet 

 issued by the "Pan American Union," Washington — D.C., entitled " Brazil." 



