50 



TAXES. 



moment of exportation 600 reis per arroba oi 

 32lbs. or about lie?, per lb. Nothing can be 

 more injudicious, than this double duty upon 

 the chief article of exportation from that coun- 

 try to Europe. The duties at the custom-house 

 are fifteen per cent, upon imports, of which the 

 valuation is left in some measure to the mer- 

 chant to whom the property belongs. Here, I 

 think, ten per cent, more might be raised with- 

 out being felt. A tax is paid at Pernambuco for 

 lighting the streets of the Rio de Janeiro, whilst 

 those of Recife remain in total darkness. 



Now, although the expenses of the provin- 

 cial governments are great, and absorb a very 

 considerable proportion of the receipts, owing 

 to the number of officers employed in every de- 

 partment, still the salaries of each are, in most 

 instances, much too small to afford a comfortable 

 subsistence ; consequently peculation, bribery, 

 and other crimes of the same description are to 

 be looked for, and they become so frequent as 

 to escape all punishment or even notice; though 

 there are some men whose character is without 

 reproach. The governor of Pernambuco re- 

 ceceives a salary of 4,000,000 reis, or about 

 1000/. per annum. Can this be supposed to be 

 sufficient for a man in his responsible situation, 

 even in a country in which articles of food are 

 cheap? His honour, however, is unimpeached; 

 not one instance did I ever hear mentioned of 



