ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [South America. 



drugs, sugar, tallow, tapioca, Brazil, fustic and rose-wood, cotton-wool, 

 &c, to tlie amount, in official value, of £\ ,181,857. The demand for Indian 

 merchandize has been chiefly confined to piece-goods, which now scarcely 

 support a competition with British fabrics. 



Port Charges amounted in 1819, on a ship of GOO tons, to 203 milreas ; 

 consisting of quarantine fees, entry and clearance at the Custom-house, fees 

 at Santa Cruz, boat-hire to ditto, and Consul's charges. 



Duties on imports and exports were settled by treaty with the Portu- 

 guese Government, at 14 per cent, ad valorem, on imports in British ships ; 

 15 per cent, in Portuguese. 



Poet Regulations. — Before a ship attempts to enter the harbour, a 

 boat should be sent to the Fort of Santa Cruz, to give notice of the ship's 

 arrival, &c. The colours should be hoisted, unless the pratique-boat be 

 already on board. Every particular respecting the ship, her condition, 

 force, and destination, must be declared under the signature of the Captain. 

 The landing of the ship's crew can only take place at the stairs opposite the 

 palace ; and a soldier generally attends every person who lands, whilst he 

 remains ou shore. Guard-boats surround the ship, to prevent unauthorized 

 landing. All persons are obliged to repair on board after sunset Unless 

 a previous settlement is made, you are forced to hire the custom-house 

 boats, which is expensive. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — The bullocks are small and poor ; 

 the sheep and hogs bad and dear ; some excellent goats are procurable, but 

 at high prices ; the poultry very fine and large; fruit fine and abundant. 

 The spirits are very indifferent ; the common wines cheap. Great care 

 should be exercised to keep the seamen from intoxication. Water is filled 

 from pipes let down to the quay. It is better to hire a country boat, which 

 holds 30 butts ; but if you water with your own long-boat, no charge is made ; 

 and on application at the palace, one of the town cocks is sometimes granted 

 for dispatch. Washing is dear, and it is difficult to get back the clothes. 



Coins. — Accounts are kept in milreas and reas, 1000 reas making a 

 milrea. Their notation is thus — 166,208, which is, 166 milreas, 208 reas. 



The gold monies current, and their weight, are as follow : — 



WnighL 

 Iteas. oz. rf-¥. ffr- 



GoM piece 25,600....! 16 12 



5 Moidiire piece, or Dobrao 24,000. ..A 14 12 

 Doubloon, or 2 Joanese , . 12,800. . , .0 18 6 



£ Dobrao 12,000,... 0 17 6 



J Doubloon, or Joanese. ... MW....0 9 5 

 Moiducc 4,000.... 0 b 22 



Weight. 

 Iteas, oz. d*. gr. 

 J Doubloon, or £ .Tonnes* . . 3,200. ... 0 4 15 

 Gobi piece... J Joaneae .. 1,000.... 0 2 0 



1 Moiuore 1,200... .0 I 10' 



Tesloon 800.... 0 1 8 



Crusado 480.... 0 0 14 



