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BRAZIL WOOD. 



exported) pao da Rainha, or Queen's wood, 

 owing to the circumstance of the trade in it 

 being a government monopoly j and it is ex- 

 ported to Europe on account of the Crown. 

 No care has been taken to prevent the scarcity 

 of the wood, and indeed its ultimate extir- 

 pation \ it is cut down unmercifully wherever 

 it is met with by the officers who are appointed 

 for this purpose, without any regard being paid 

 to the size of the tree. No plantations have 

 been formed of it, and consequently it is now 

 rarely to be seen, within many leagues of the 

 coast. The labour which is required in ob- 

 taining it is now considerable, for the weight of 

 the wood renders its conveyance very difficult 

 upon the backs of horses, and this is the only 

 manner in which it can be carried. The pay 

 which is given by the government to the carriers 

 is below the usual rate for work equally labo- 

 rious, and therefore a wide source of oppression 

 is afforded. The carrier receives with his load 

 a slip of paper, declaring the weight of the 

 wood which he is conveying ; this is to be pre- 

 sented by him at the Intendencia da Marinha y 

 or dock-yard at Recife, and he must wait until the 

 wood is again weighed and the paper counter- 

 signed, before he can return home. These men 

 are delayed sometimes for several days, before 

 they are permitted to return; and they find 

 that it is their interest to make many presents 



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