( 1*3 ) 



CHAP. XVI. 



AGRICULTURE. 



SUGAR-rLANTATJONS. 



AGRICULTURE in Brazil* had not, for 

 many years, until very lately, received any 

 improvement ; and even now it is only slowly 

 md with much difficulty that innovations are 

 made. It is quite hopeless to expect a rapid 

 change of system among men who had not even 

 heard that there existed other agriculturists 

 besides themselves ; who were astonished to 

 learn that Brazil was not the only country in 

 which sugar was made ; who know not, or at 

 least did not know until very lately, that there 

 was any other nation than their own ; who im- 

 agined that Portugal had possession of every 

 thing worth having in this world ; in fact, 

 whose ignorance was extreme. Most of the 

 planters of the inland country, and even most of 

 those near to the coast who reside entirely upon 



* In making use of the word Brazil, it must be understood 

 that I mean to denote that portion of the country which I 

 have had opportunities of seeing. The agriculture of the 

 provinces of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia is doubtless in a more 

 forward state than that of Pernambuco and the line of coast 

 to Maranham. 



