86 



PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



upon the donna, to ascertain under what circumstances the five pounds were 

 to be paid. She had no objections to his becoming the purchaser; but said, she 

 thought the sum demanded was too much, and that she would send in a person 

 to value the hemfeitoras ; that is, what produce might be upon the ground, if 

 the party wished to sell it. He found, therefore, in place of its being a free 

 purchase, this lady had the full controul over the property, in case of the occu- 

 pier wishing to dispose of it. He would have purchased her five pounds fine ; 

 that she would on no account part with, and further stated, that, for every two 

 slaves more that he employed, he must pay five pounds more fine. The pre- 

 sent holder was only to work it with two. The object of this would seem to 

 bcj that, in the event of its being disposed of, she would not have so many hem- 

 feitoras to take. This gentleman would have expended a considerable sum, 

 and have brought the land into a state of fine cultivation, if he could have 

 retained it in his own possession, and that of his successors in perpetuity ; but, 

 if circumstances compelled him to part with it, this donna, by the Brazilian 

 laws, would have had the preference ; and two people, appointed for the pur- 

 pose, would have been sent to value the produce standing upon the ground, 

 without regard to improvement of times, or the amelioration of the soil ; and, 

 in consequence of this fine, she would have unfairly regained possession of the 

 property for a mere bagatelle. This being the state of the case, my friend imme- 

 diately declined any further treaty upon the subject. This donna and two 

 sisters, all spinsters, possess a most extensive range of land, the whole under 

 similar circumstances, and nearly in the same condition that it was left by the 

 Indians. The parties occupying it live upon the produce of fruit sold at mar- 

 ket, and a little mandioca. Under the present system of landed tenure, it will 

 remain covered with wild grass till doomsday. 



It is a great misfortune to the Brazil, that extensive tracts of land have been 

 granted to donatories, who do not possess the means of cultivating one-hun- 

 dredth part of it, but hold it on under the expectation that the gradual im- 

 provement of the country will render it daily more valuable, and the residence 

 of the court here induces them to adhere more strongly to this impression : if 

 they dispose of any part of it, they generally subject it to a fine, and the con- 

 sequences attending such a contract will present a decided obstacle to the 

 agricultural improvement of this country, at all proportioned to its extent 

 or superabundant powers. Individuals who would devote their exertions and 

 property to the culture of the soil, where this mode prevails, must be effectually, 

 deterred. The province of St. Paulo, which may be estimated to contain 



