240 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



In June, 1884, for instance, there were "drawings" on the 

 following days : 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 25, 28, 30 ; i.e. 

 about three a week. The highest prize is from 20 to 25 

 contos {i.e., at 24^/. to the milreis, £2000 to ;^25oo). There 

 are also varying numbers of prizes of ten, five, four, two, 

 and one conto, of 800, 500, 200, lOO, 40 milreis, and from 

 1800 to 1900 of 20 milreis. The object is the benefit of 

 the province or the town, some hospital or conventual 

 institution, or the fund for emancipation of slaves. I 

 believe a third of the proceeds goes to the cause. The 

 price of a ticket is 20 milreis ; but portions are sold, down 

 to one-twentieth, which costs a milreis. The drawing appears 

 to be done with fairness. I heard of many successful 

 individuals, among them an office-boy, who, buying a 

 milreis ticket, drew a prize of £'CjO ; and an English captain, 

 who had only that day arrived in Rio, drew a prize of 

 ;^200 ! The tickets are obtainable at all the kiosks, where 

 coffee and newspapers are sold, also in many shops, while 

 many bureaux exist solely by their sale ; and one cannot 

 walk a hundred yards without seeing little placards floating 

 in the breeze, " Hoje anda a roda" — ^"To-day the wheel 

 goes," — or to-morrow, or whatever day it may be. There 

 are also notices stating, " In this office No. — was sold, 

 which drew such a prize." The little newspaper-boys, 

 who cry the evening paper Gazeta da Tarde, never weary 

 of calling out " Results of the Lottery." As this happens 

 about three times a week, one soon gets tired of it. 



The system may be objected to on account of the 

 gambling it induces ; but the Gpvernment upholds it, as it 

 brings much money into their impoverished treasury. 



