June 2, 189c] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
843 
botanists, of whom we know some to practise their 
soienoe. There is much to find out, if only the 
reasons why one species of tree is better than 
another. 
Tea planting T know nothing about, and I fear 
I would make bad weather at it. I believe cotton 
would pay well in Matale and Haputale; and having 
planted and grown it, I oould enlighten my old 
neighbours, but I did all with ploughs and mules. 
There are so many writing in the Observer on 
' 'ootton" that, what I had to say on it would be passed 
over as " stale." If, however, I have to " loaf " in 
Bio for some time I may write to our friends of the 
Observer on it. By the way I had all the Tropical 
Agriculturists nicely filed from the beginning, and 
I looked on them as valuable references on agri- 
cultural and botanical subjects, but while I was 
absent in the interior some six months ago, the 
white-ants got where they were and in August last 
I found them beautifully honeycombed. The 
valuable maps in connection with and filed along 
them, which had oost so much to compile, these 
oreatures respected not. 
I believe cane could be made to yield sugar and 
rum to pay in many parts of Ceylon, but none but 
Companies oould attempt it, the new style of machi- 
nery is so oostly, Then without 30 inch gauge 
railway lines to transport the cane, the factory oould 
not be kept in steady work. This cane cultivation 
pays best by being done with the plough. 
People in Europe have not a very clear idea of 
what our Bepublic is. As far as I have seen it has 
made no difference. Things have moved on as if 
nothing had happened. True, I have been far 
away from Bio, but I subscribe to a Bio paper 
whioh gives all the news. As a proof that the 
change was needed we find every one supporting 
the Bepublio. We have also to consider that 
the change was affected and the position is 
still held by the army and navy, and the police 
all over the country is substituted by them, so that 
any expression of opinion contrary would be im- 
mediately checked. The reasons were principally 
three:— 1st, discontent amongst tho officers of the 
two services owing to measures having been taken 
by the late Government, whioh the army thought 
they should not submit to. It began three years 
ago when some offiaers of high rank were censured 
for breach of discipline in defending themselves in 
the newspapers from attaoks made on them by 
members in their places in Parliament. Writing to 
newspapers being forbidden in the army. Then for 
some time the officers complained that their duties 
were being gradually absorbed by the National Guard 
(similar to your Volunteers, but which I have never 
seen nor heard of being paraded, although there 
are a good many officers called by their Military 
title all over the country) and the Police. Small 
things which looked large to fighting men with 
weapons in their hands. 
2nd.— Was the Emancipation Law of 13th May 
1888 which by a stroke of the pen after a shoto 
of debate for five days in Parliament put an 
unconditional end to Slavery ? The Government of 
the day were slow to recognise the need of the 
slaveholders for advances of money to relieve them 
from a state of affairs so suddenly and unexpectedly 
brought about and this at the beginning of the 
pioking of the largest oeffee crop hitherto produced, 
so tho slaveholders, or tho proslavery portion of them 
(for there were always abolitionists amongst them) 
turned against the monarchy which had brought 
this about and openly professed republican principles. 
3rd.— During the changes mentioned above the 
Emperor was in Europe where he remained for 
sometime sufforing from diabetes, and his daughter 
who was Regent, oarriod on the Government. The 
Emancipation Law received the support of all edu- 
cated people, and that question alone would not 
have deposed the Boyal Family. But the Princess 
Begent has all her life been a fanatical adherent 
of the Church of Borne, and she is married to 
Conde de Eu — son of a deposed French Monarch, 
and although he fought well for Brazil in the 
Paraguayan war he was disliked for reasons which I 
have never found out. He was a Field Marshal, 
but unpopular in the servioe. He was said to be 
near and mean, to look after his own interests, and 
those of his friends, and said to influence hjs wife 
in the selection of Ministers and other high Btate 
officials. They were naturally blamed for the polioy 
pursued by the Ministry after emancipation, for 
instead of seeking to relieve agriculture from the 
blow recently given to it, money was voted to repair 
old churches, restore lapsed livings in connection 
with the Church, create new Bishoprics and Bishops 
for them, and instal a cardinal representative of 
the Pope. The Emperor oame back sounder in 
body, but said to be weak in intellect. The Eman- 
cipation Ministry got so unpopular it had to resign. 
A new one was formed from the party whioh had 
a minority in Parliament, so a new election had 
to be announced, and in a place which takes 
months for communication from remote parts to 
the capital, an eleotion cannot be effected in less 
than six months from its announcement. During 
this interval the Ministry and the Emperor can 
rule by decree pretty much as they choose. The 
acts of the Ministry to relieve agriculture satisfied 
the planters, but dissatisfied the Army and Navy. 
The embers smouldering for some years before broke 
out into flame, and although the Ministry had by 
the election lists a large majority it had not time 
to use it, for one fine morning the Military made 
all of them prisoners, and Don Pedro 2nd and 
his family were told to quit and in a couple of 
days were shipped to Portugal. The Military were 
strong enough to keep down all opposition and the 
Navy joined them at same time, but no opposition 
was attempted. 
Thus was effected the socalled bloodless revolution 
of Brazil. The Minister of War fired on the officer 
who came with the announcement to quit his post, 
the arm missed fire, the officer fired baok and 
sent a ball into the Minister's leg, but the wound 
was not mortal. The extracted ball is now being 
exhibited as a curiosity. 
On the day the Government and Monarchy were 
deposed, a Proclamation was issued signed by the 
Commander-in-Chief as President, and others who 
composed a Provisional Government, everything 
was to go on as before. All contracts made by 
former Governments were to be carried out in their 
integrity. All Provincial and Municipal Councils 
were to be substituted by others nominated by the 
Provisional Government. Finally they were only to 
hold power until a constitutional Assembly repre- 
senting the whole nation should meet and deoide 
what was to be done, and this was decided to meet 
in September, ten months after. 
The Provisional Government have made by decree 
various important reforms, amongst them the 
separation of Ohuroh and State. The institution 
of civil marriage, and the naturalization of all 
foreigners resident in Brazil at the date of 15th 
November — date of the Bepublic. Those wishing to 
retain their nationality have to give notice within 
six months to the Munioipal Council of the place 
they reside in, all those so naturalized have all 
rights equal to Brazilian born subjects, to hold 
any post except that of Chief Magistrate (President-) 
Brazil is " the United States of Brazil." Provinces 
are " States" (Estados), Presidents of Provinces are 
" Governors" &c, &e. 
