\ 576 NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



the roads were little used, insufferably bad, intricate, and embarrassed ; and 

 it is a fact beyond dispute, and probably worth observing, that had not 

 the interior of South America possessed the precious Metals, it would 

 have remained as utterly unknown at this day as is the interior of Africa. 

 There would have been as little inducement for the inhabitants of the 

 Coast to climb the Mantiqueira and the Andes, as there is to penetrate 

 by the Senegal or Sofala towards the Mountains of the Moon. In young 

 countries, however. Mines and Sea-ports will usually collect inhabitants, 

 which do not depend upon Agriculture for subsistence, and this 

 circumstance, in Brazil, occasioned some little internal Commerce for 

 their supply. 



The value of the Colonies to Portugal arose, not, as it ought to 

 have done, from the consumption of manufactures, the employment of 

 hands and of shipping ; but from the heavy duties imposed in the Mother 

 Country, upon articles exported, and upon the Gold, Silver, Precious 

 Stones, Sugar, Hides, Tndigo, and other Produce, which was brought 

 home, and enabled the country to carry on the trades to some European 

 countries, Africa, India, and China. If we contemplate the taxes paid 

 by all the branches of Brazilian Commerce, we find that they amounted 

 to one hundred and fifty pounds per cent, of direct imposts, that is, for 

 every hundred pounds, which Portugal sent out in materials and 

 labour, she received two hundred and fifty pounds back again ; besides 

 all charges of transport and interest of capital ; without estimating the 

 rent or value of Brazilian land, wages for labour, or even the Royal 

 Monopolies of Diamonds, Brazil Wood, and Snuff : without reckoning, 

 likewise, the charges of the Government Establishments in its Ame- 

 rican Colonies. Nothing can more strongly show than this does, 

 the wisdom of the Government in removing from Portugal to Brazil, at 

 a moment when political circumstances threatened the immediate and 

 everlasting separation of the two countries. The change, as has been 

 repeatedly noticed, has produced a most wonderful effect upon Brazil. 



The Conde de Linhares soon saw that good roads, and an easy com- 

 inunication between one place and another, were of the first consequence 



