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The quantity of hides exported from hence is almost incredible : 

 they furnish many vessels with entire cargoes, which are carried to 

 the northern ports, and from thence embarked for Europe. The 

 annual average may be estimated at not less than three hundred 

 thousand. 



--. Tallow forms another considerable article of commerce, which in 

 general is shipped in the crude state, and not refined, as in the river 

 Plata. The greater part is consumed in Brazil, and the dealers find 

 it preferable to refine the article on the spot, where they manufacture 

 it into candles. It is packed in waste raw-hide packages*. 



Horns and horse-hair form an inferior branch of the commerce, 

 and are shipped from this port in great quantities. 



The above are the staple productions of Rio Grande, which give 

 employment to perhaps a hundred sail of coasters, some of which 

 make two or three vo^^ages in a year, carrying thither rum, sugar, 

 tobacco, cotton, rice, mandioca, sweet-meeats, &c.-f- 

 . Of European merchandise, they bring wine, oil, olives, glass, and a 

 great variety of English commodities, particularly iron, (though they 

 much prefer the Swedish,) baizes, coalings, stout woollen cloths, 

 Manchester velverets of various qualities and colours, printed cot- 

 tons, calicoes, muslins, handkerchiefs, silk, cotton, and worsted 

 hosiery, hats, flannels, &c. 



, Sail-cloth, cordage, anchors, tar, paints, fowling-pieces, ammuni- 

 tion of all sorts, hardware of every description, particularly slaugh- 

 ter-knives, some plated ware, and fancy articles. A great part of 



* Some English settlers, disappointed in the river Plata, went to Rio Grande to establish 

 concerns for curing beef, refining tallow, &c., which they soon found it necessary to aban- 

 don. 



f Almost every vessel brings a greater or smaller number of negroes, it being the practice 

 at Rio de Janeiro to ship off all those who are ill-disposed and troublesome for Rio Grande, 

 whence, if they continue refractory, they are frequently sold into the neighbouring colony. 



