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The next object is the fattening of cattle for Rio de Janeiro, a place where good 

 meat can scarcely be said to be known. Oxen of a certain age should be brought 

 from the interior, and tied up in proper feeding-houses, as they would be liable, 

 if turned loose, to get into the marshes and be lost. Two or three hundred would^ 

 be sufficient to begin with : they might cost, when brought to Santa Cruz, four 

 or five milreis each, and would be fattened in three or four months, when they 

 would sell for eleven or twelve milreis each, %iore or less. They would require 

 artificial food most convenient to the soil and climate, and a quantity of land under 

 the best cultivation, to maintain them. Nay, I think the feeding might be extend- 

 ed, so as to sell two or three hundred monthly. It must be understood, that a 

 variety of sheds for feeding-houses are indispensable. A farm (like Santa Cruz) 

 without conveniences is a mere waste of land ; for store-houses, and appropriate 

 buildings of every description, are equally necessary as a dwelling-house. In the 

 poor hovels occupied by the worthy tenants of Santa Cruz, not the least attention 

 has been paid to the erection of barns or other out-houses, for produce of every 

 description ; indeed, I again repeat that they are miserable dwellings, hateful to 

 those who occupy them for want of comfort. If, by way of contrast, two neat 

 farm-houses were to be built with every convenience, after the most approved Eng- 

 lish plans, having certain portions of land allotted to them, with good roads, and 

 -water brought if necessary, for the purpose of irrigation, they would be perfectly 

 adequate to pay a rent equal to the interest of money laid out upon them ; and it 

 is probable the^experiment would be attended with the happiest consequences. 

 Then would His Royal Highness soon find his rich lands adorned with beautiful 

 villas, and the road from thence to Rio de Janeiro would be covered with vehicles 

 conducting their produce to that market. But liberality so different from the present 

 narrow principles which direct the management of that estate, cannot be expected 

 from those who strive all in their power to oppress the tenants instead of encourag^;- 

 ing them. These unhappy men, wearied by such grievances, and seeing no proSf 

 pect of am.elioration, are daily leaving the estate under the conviction that no 

 change can be for the worse ; and there is reason to fear that His Royal Highness 

 will soon find his farm a desert. The probable result will be, that he will be per- 

 suaded to consent to part with it ; and the same disingenuous practices will take 

 place, which wrested from the Viceroy the only two sugar-mills on the estate. 

 This hint may possibly be given too late ; for I have reason to suppose, that the fate 

 of Santa Cruz was decided before I left the country. If it is not too late, it may 

 serve to frustrate the views of those who have ever coveted this princely domain, 



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