202 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



duties, which, before the trade was free, they had to pay 

 in the custom-houses of Portugal ; but may then be re- 

 exported from Portugal duty free. Brazilian articles of 

 commerce which already pay fixed duties, are hereafter to 

 pay them without the consulate duties. (These fixed duties 

 are differently regulated, according to the tariffs of the 

 several ports.) Portuguese manufactures, which enjoy no 

 particular exemptions as national manufactures, are entitled, 

 on importation into Brazil, to a deduction of 5 per cent, 

 by way of bounty. Asiatic productions, which hitherto 

 paid 8 per cent, on exportation from Portugal, pay hence- 

 forth only 3 per cent. The duty on all Portuguese goods 

 is reduced from 16 to 15 per cent. Foreign goods in 

 Portuguese vessels receive a deduction of 5 per cent, from 

 the duty which is generally 24 per cent. Salt, whether 

 imported by Portuguese or foreigners, pays 800 rees per 

 moio (20 Brazilian alqueires). Foreign vessels pay in 

 all the custom-houses of the united kingdoms, the same 

 tonnage, anchorage, and light-house duties, which Portu- 

 guese ships pay in the harbours of the respective nations. 

 (In Rio the anchorage duty is one piaster per day.) Slaves 

 and goods of every kind imported into Brazil must, if they 

 are to be re-exported to foreign countries, first pay the 

 duty on consumption. 



The same royal decree [alvara] commands the erection 

 of light-houses, and the formation of what are called ca- 

 patacias, in the sea-ports. The latter consist of societies 

 of porters, mostly free negroes and mulattoes, who are di- 

 vided into companies, under the direction and authority of 

 the custom-house officers, convey the goods to and from the 

 magazines, and are responsible for them as long as they 

 remain in their hands. In the larger commercial towns of 

 Brazil these corporations are on the same footing as at 

 Lisbon, where they are very numerous, and carry burthens 

 instead of mules. Their organisation resembles that of the 

 Hamburgh porters called Litzelbriider. 



