TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



193 



in silver, which they carry to India. It is affirmed* 

 that in some years the value of the silver exported 

 in this manner has amounted to 500,000/. nay even 

 800,000/. sterling. 



The great difference in the value of the imports 

 and exports in favour of Rio de Janeiro, which 

 from the excess of the latter draws large sums in 

 ready money from Europe, indicates at once the 

 nature of the commercial relations between Europe 

 and this rich though infant state. The precious 

 metals which the rapacious eagerness of preceding 

 centuries has snatched from the bosom of America, 

 are now gradually returning to their native country, 

 and either remain there or find their way to India. 

 The admirable situation of the secure and spacious 

 harbour, on the shores of an ocean where naviga- 

 tion is in general safe and practicable at all seasons, 

 almost, as it were, at the entrance of the principal 

 route of universal commerce ; the short time in 

 which voyages may be performed from here to 

 Europe, the west coast of Africa, the Cape, Mozam- 

 bique, India, and New Holland ; the abundance of 

 inland produce and of precious metals ; and the 

 great impulse which the presence of the court gives 

 to the country, have already so much extended the 

 connections of this place, that it must become at 

 no very distant period one of the richest ports in 

 the world. The activity of trade in the capital of 

 Brazil, proves that the variety of productions must 



* John Luccock's Notes on Rio de Janeiro, Lond. 1820, 

 4to, p. 595. 



VOL. I. O 



