TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



203 



To the produce of the custom-houses in Brazil, which 

 constitute an important part of the revenue, must be added 

 the duties upon goods which are exported from one pro- 

 vince to another. These direitos da entrada are very con- 

 siderable, because they are imposed upon all goods without 

 exception, according to the weight, on lead, iron, and 

 other metals, as well as on the hghtest stuffs, silk goods^ 

 &c. On entering the province of Minas Geraes, the arroba 

 pays 720 rees ; salt is the only exception, the duty being 

 but 450 rees upon the arroba.* For every negro slave 

 imported into Minas, 7800 rees are paid at the frontier 

 custom-house (registo); on the river Paraibuna, for each 

 head of horned cattle, mule, or horse, 2 pataccas (640 

 rees) ; for every person 1 patacca ; for the countersigning 

 of the passport 2 pataccas. Similar duties are paid at 

 every frontier custom-house of a capitania. 



But the wants of the state are farther provided for by 

 imposts and taxes which are collected either immediately 

 by the government, or by farmers [contractadores). These 

 taxes are partly different in the several provinces, each of 

 which has its own financial administration ; in general, 

 however, with some local modifications, the following are 

 levied : — Dizimo; a tenth of all the produce of agriculture, 

 fisheries, and cattle. — Subsidio real or nacional i duties on 

 fi:esh meat, on raw and tanned hides, on sugar-cane 

 brandy, and coarse woollens, which are manufactured in 



* Till within these few years, the importation of salt from Portugal 

 and its colonies into Brazil, was let out to a farmer-general for the sum 

 of 48,000 milrees per annum ; the inhabitants of the coasts of Per- 

 nambuco, Cabo Frio, and Rio Grande were, however, allowed to make 

 salt in their pits for their own consumption, but not to export it. 

 (S. Ensaio economico sobre o commercio de Portugal por D. L L da 

 Cunha de Azeredo Coutinho edi9. seg. Lisb. 1816, p. 20.) The 

 monopolies and inland duties are said to have been abolished by the 

 Crown Prince Don Pedro, since the departure of the king from the 

 Brazils. 



