NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



57'7 



toward the improvement of an infant State, and promoted them with all 

 his influence, especially such as connected the Interior with Sea-ports. 

 His plans, notwithstanding all the obstacles and delays they have met 

 with, are carried into effect so far as to create, or improve and facilitate, 

 the intercourse betwixt Espirito Santo and Villa Rica ; that of St. George 

 dos Ilhos with Tejuca, St. Vincent's, and St. Paul's, and that of Rio de 

 Janeiro with every part of the Empire. Geographical circumstances 

 prohibit the same extent of intercourse from the ports of Bahia and 

 Pernambuco, with the Interior ; but the case is much more happy both 

 in Maranham and Para. 



By this increased facility of communication, a very intimate and 

 active correspondence has been promoted between all the different parts 

 of Brazil. Planters and Breeders of Cattle, and Miners, are now within 

 reach of Ports, where their produce is in demand ; and Manufactured 

 Goods of Europe and other parts of the world, can be easily transported 

 to the utmost frontier, through forests, across rivers, and over mountains, 

 which only a few years ago, presented an impenetrable barrier. This has 

 created a demand for produce where it was never before sought, has fur- 

 nished employment to the industrious, and given to estates a value which 

 ten years ago Avould have been considered as absolutely chimerical. It 

 would be pleasant, and perhaps useful, to describe the several points on 

 the Coast, which are favourable to a communication with the Interior : 

 and to mark the line which Commerce must ultimately follow. But 

 this would lead us too far ; minute descriptions must be confined to the 

 Port of Rio and its dependencies, and some general remarks shall 

 be offered upon the other Districts, when we speak of the Coasting 

 Trade. 



Internal Commerce, in such a country as Brazil, and indeed through 



the whole of South America, must depend, in a great measure, upon 



the towns which are situate upon the Coast, and to which strangers resort 



who require support and assistance during their stay, and necessaries for 



the voyages, on which they subsequently proceed. Where the Court 



resides, also, whether it be that of the Sovereign or of his Vicereys, will 



4 D 



