TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



191 



the cultivation to be considerably extended ; and at 

 present Rio de Janeiro furnishes, among all the 

 ports of Brazil, the greatest quantity of coffee, and 

 that which is most in request. During the last 

 years the exportation amounted, in the year 1817 

 to 9,567,960 pounds, in 1818 to 11,140,350, in 

 1819 to 8,087,^20 pounds (on account of the 

 drought), in 18^0 to 14,733,540 pounds. The cotton 

 exported from this place to Europe, particularly to 

 London and Liverpool, is not merely the produc- 

 tion of the neighbourhood ; a very large part of it 

 is brought to Rio on mules from Minas, chiefly from 

 Minas Novas. From six to eight arrobas, put into 

 two sacks made of raw hides, are the usual burthen 

 of each mule. The cotton tree cultivated at Rio 

 (Gossypium barbadense, L. sometimes, but more 

 rarely the G, herbaceum, L.) thrives very well, but 

 is said not to furnish such durable materials as that 

 in the higher and drier district of Minas Novas. 

 Tobacco is principally grown in the islands in the 

 Bay of Rio, in that of Angra dos Reys, and on the 

 lowest coast land (Beiramar), for instance in the 

 vicinity of Paraty ; it is also brought here from the 

 capitania of Espirito Santo. The dried and salted 

 hides which Rio de Janeiro sends principally to 

 England and France, are mostly brought from Rio 

 Grande do Sul, S. Paul and Minas. A view of 

 these most important articles of exportation during 

 the year 1817 is subjoined.* 



* See Note 4. page 205. 



