82 



AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



somewhat closely in a single family by the adoi^tion of the Ungoa geral (" general 

 language ") as the common medium of intercourse. 



The Slave Question. 

 A still greater contrast is presented by the African element, which enters in 

 far greater proportion into the constituents of the Lusitano-American than into 



Fig. 27.— Brazil and Portugal. 

 Scale 1 : 88,000,000. 



1,850 Miles. 



those of the Hispano-American populations. Owing to the proximity of the 

 Guinea coastlands, slaves were imported by the million into the Brazilian planta- 

 tions, and although the majority call themselves " white," the Brazilian nation, 

 viewed as a whole, must certainly be called mixed. In any case, even the full- 

 blood negroes are regarded as equals by their white fellow-citizens. 



Yet of all cultured nations Brazil had longest maintained the institution of 

 slaverv ; even the slave trade was legally carried on till 1826, and then abolished 



