I 
!24 THE AMAZON AND MADEIRA RIVERS. 
By the Treaty of Sao Ildetbuso, iu 1777, botli parties liaviiig long 
felt liow impraeticable the old arrangements were? — at least, for their 
American colonies — the boundaries Avere fixed npon the ])riuciple of the 
uti possidetis, at any rate so far as the imperfect knowledge of the interior 
alhnved; but this effort also proved to be A'aiu, as the opportunity of a 
peaceful understanding betAveen the tAvo nations had been permitted to 
elapse (intentionally, as is thought) by the I’ortuguese Avithout a final 
clearing up of the disputed points. Arujs were taken up anew, but until 
noAV they failed to bring about any durable I’esults ; and the unsolAmd 
cpiestion descended as an evil heritage to then’ respecti\*e heii\s, Brazil, 
and the South American Bepublics. A foAV years ago it gave rise to 
the terrible Avar Avith Paraguay ; and it Avill lead to fresh conflicts 
betAveen Brazil and the Argentine Republic, Avhich, though closely allied 
against the common enemy, Avill sooner or later have to fight it out, 
(‘.specially if the districts iu question be opened to trade and civilisation 
by the Avorld-transforming agency of steam. 
A uoAV era began for the country in 1808, AAith the transmigration of 
the king Don Joao VI., Avho sought and found a refuge from the Preiich 
grenadicu’s in the long-neglected colony. As it were at one bloAA^, it ro.s<! 
to an equality of rank Avith the mother country, Avhich, for a time, indeed 
had to play a secondary pai't. During the thirteen years Avhich Don 
Joao VI. spent iu Brazil, he repealed a great many of the short-sighted 
and uarroAV-minded measures Avhicli had obstructed all progress ; such, 
for example, as one passed so late as 1784, which prohibited the 
Brazilians to manufacture any tissues, saAm the very coarsest cotton for 
the clothing of the negroes. But, unfortunately, he roused to a blazing 
tlamc the old hatred against tlie Portuguese, by filling all the offices Avfith 
them, and by crcjating sinecures for the courtiers aa'Iio had migrated Avith 
him. 
A Revolution, which broke out at Pernambuco iu 1812, Avas easily 
subdued, as the neighbouring provinces, headed by Baliia, ]iositively 
refused to join it; but the so-called Constitutional Revolution of 
Portugal, in 1820, found a loud echo in Brazil. At Pard and Bahia, 
and, finally at Rio de Janeiro, the Portuguese troops sided Avith the 
iusnrgeuls. The CroAvn Prince himself took the lead, and, iu February, 
1821, the King was forced to recognise the constitution, yet to be 
draAvn np by tin' Cortes at Lisbon. But, as this required before all 
things the return of the King, and, besides, Avas exactly calculated 
