BRAZILIAN MONEY, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 



MONEY : 



The basis throughout Brazil is the " real " (plural : " reis "), 

 which is, however, not in circulation, being too small a coin. 1,000 

 reis are taken as the basis in exchange calculation ; at the time 

 of our visit 1,000 reis (one milreis) were equal to about 7d. The normal 

 rate is 27d. One " Conto de reis " is used to indicate 1,000 milreis. 

 The conto is generally expressed in writing by double dots between 

 the figures, thus, 1:000 $000 (at the rate of Is. per 1,000 reis £50), 

 meaning one conto. 



WEIGHTS : 



The metric system is in force. 



1 " arroba "= 15 kilos, sometimes 16 and even 20 kilos, especially 

 in the North. Owing to the varying rates the equivalent in kilos is 

 always stated in this report. 



1 kilo =2 •2051b. avoirdupois. 



lib. -0-453 kilo. 



LAND MEASURES: 



1 alqueire=:5-6 acres=2-4 hectares. 



In Sao Paulo one alqueire=100 " bragas " (arms) by 50 brayas ; 

 each "bra9a"=2-20 metres = 10 " palmas " (palm of hand); 1 

 "palma" = -22 metres. (In Rio and Minas one alqueire is equal to 

 100 bragas.) 



The metric system is in force. 



In the North " Taref as " are used. 1 tarefa=30 bragasxSO 

 bragas (approximately an acre). 1 bra9a=2-20 m. 



Generally, the following rough and ready measures obtain : 



48 to 55 kilos seed cotton give 15 kilos lint. 



55 to 65 litres dry coffee in cherry state give 15 kilos of clean 

 coffee beans. 



3 parts of rice in hull give 2 parts cleaned. 



1 cart of Indian corn==12 loads=24 baskets=20 alqueires of 

 50 litres. (The word " alqueire " may mean a land measure or a 

 weight.) 



In the interior stones are stiU in use for weighing on the scales ; 

 frequently a few horses' or mules' shoes are added to the stones to 

 adjust the scales. 



