POLITICAL STATE OF BRAZIL. 89 
Under contraband since 1830, the number annually imported is 
estimated at seven to ten thousand. 
In speaking of the apprehension of a rise of the blacks in the pro- 
vinces, the well informed seemed to entertain no kind of fear of such 
an event. I was told that Bahia was the only point at which insur- 
rections w^ere ever likely to occur, and this was from the prevalence 
of the Mina slaves, who are very intelligent, and capable of forming 
organized bodies, which they occasionally have done. The slaves of 
the other provinces are of a mixed character, incapable of any organi- 
zation, and from having been taken from different tribes on the coast, 
they are more or less hostile to each other, and would be opposed to 
any such union. 
The Brazilians have great respect for foreigners who are not 
Portuguese. The latter are detested. They have a strong bias in 
favour of the United States and the American government generally. 
They think the time is approaching which will unite the people of 
this continent in a distinct national policy, in contra-distinction to 
that of Europe, and in rivalry to it, They are vain of their own 
country and its institutions, and firmly believe that a high destiny 
awaits Brazil. The government in its political relations with other 
countries is seemingly confiding and liberal. 
The population of the empire, taking the last returns of the 
members of the Chamber of Deputies as a guide, is estimated at five 
millions. No census has yet been taken, but it is thought to exceed 
this number. The scrutiny formerly exercised by the government 
into their domestic affairs it is said caused them to conceal the actual 
number of persons in their families. Of the above number about 
two millions are slaves. No estimate has been made of the proportion 
which free blacks, mulattoes, or Indians bear to the whites or to each 
other. The relative number of slaves varies much in the different 
provinces ; it is largest in Rio de Janeiro and the Minas Geraes. 
The population of Rio in 1810 was estimated at forty thousand, in 
1838 it was two hundred and fifty thousand. In Appendix XXI. 
will be found a statement of the population that may be considered 
semi-official. 
The national debt of Brazil amounts to one hundred million 
milrees, or sixty million dollars. The revenue was about sixteen 
millions of dollars for 1838. It is derived principally from exports 
and imports. A statement of the quantities of produce exported in 
the above year, will be found in Appendix XXII. I was not able to 
vor.. t. 23 
