YELLOW FEVER EXPEDITION 
543 
excessive humidity of the atmosphere which is so enervating to the northener. 
Local authorities love to quote the words of travellers who speak of the delightful 
freshness and coolness of Para after being in the hot steamy interior, but they do 
not draw attention to the still more delightful freshness which is experienced in 
getting out to sea. The steamy heat reacts unfavourably on the energy of the native 
and foreigner, and makes the place rather unsuitable for the prolonged, continued 
residence of Europeans ; so much so, indeed, that one of the leading physicians 
informed me that he always recommended foreigners coming from cooler climes to 
spend six months in Europe at least every three years, that is to say, a much shorter 
period than is customary in India and other tropical places. By heresay evidence 
I gather that some of the more successful business has been conducted by firms con- 
sisting of a number of responsible partners, each of whom is thereby able to spend 
comparatively short stays in Para, and much time in Europe. Thereby a certain 
briskness and energy can be brought to bear in a manner which can hardly be 
expected from those who have made prolonged stays. So far as I was able to 
observe, the women from northern climes are particularly unable to withstand the 
climate ; thus the wives of several residents have found themselves obliged to reside 
in Europe. 
The general tendency to apathy and slackness is also due to the monotony of 
the conditions — uniformity of temperature year in and year out, no relief by change 
of season, except, perhaps, for the worse, during the so-called winter or wet season 
(January to May), when the humidity becomes still more trying, and the absence of 
recreation, so far as the majority are concerned. The business of one day ushers in 
the business of the next ; and, on the whole, there is but little social intercourse. One 
difficulty in the way of obtaining recreation, which cannot be neglected in considering 
the opportunities for all, is the financial aspect. The price of things in Para border 
on the absurd, especially when the rate of exchange is high ; this makes itself 
felt, especially on those who receive a salary in sterling currency based on a certain 
rate, tor instance, ninepence per milreis, a serious deficiency in the purchasing power 
of the salary, when the milreis goes up to twelvepence or thirteenpence per milreis, 
as was the case during my stay. ■ 
Some break or change can be obtained by residing out of the city, as for example, 
further down the river at Pinheiro (one hour) or Mosqueiro (two hours) ; but the 
service of steamers is slight, and arranged more for government office hours, which 
are not found particularly convenient for business purposes. On the land side, where 
the air is not so fresh and breezy (as especially about Mosqueiro), many people live 
out at or towards the Marco da Legua (the mark of the league distance from the 
city), to and from which they travel by an erratic and miserable tramcar service. 
The action of the climate upon Europeans is probably enhanced by the perform- 
ance of brainwork under high pressure, now and again with unexpected worry for 
