514 



A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 



pendent of all government influence, consisting of Bra- 

 zilians, Portuguese, Germans, Swiss, Americans, French, &q. 

 The objects of this society, of which Mr. Tavares Bastos is 

 one of the most influential members, are, first, to reform 

 the constitution in all which may place the foreigner at a 

 disadvantage ; second, to redress the wrongs of the emi- 

 grants ; third, to provide them with such assistance and 

 information as they may need on arriving. This society 

 has been in existence only two years, but has already 

 rendered valuable services. It is to be hoped that the 

 government will persevere in the liberal course it has 

 entered upon, and, above all, put an end to the unnecessary 

 legal formalities by which the emigrant is prevented from 

 taking immediate possession of his new home. This is 

 especially important in the region of the Amazons, where 

 the new-comer finds none of those facilities which welcome 

 the emigrant in the United States. I cannot too often 

 repeat, also, that all monopoly of transport in the Amazons 

 should speedily be abolished. As soon as the wild prod- 

 ucts of its shores are subjected to a regular culture, even 

 of a very imperfect kind, and are no longer gathered at 

 random, — as soon as organized labor, directed by an in- 

 telligent activity, takes the place of the thoughtless and 

 uncertain efforts of the Indians, the variety and excellence 

 of its staples will be increased beyond all expectation. As 

 it is, a little foresight would prevent an immense deal of 

 suffering in this fertile region, where food abounds and 

 people die of hunger. Accustomed to live upon fish, the 

 natives make little use either of milk or meat, and the fine 

 pasturage which might maintain herds of cattle is allowed 

 to run to waste. Careless of the inclemency of the weatlier 

 when gathering the harvest of the forest, they scarcely 



