Industrial and commercial South America

The country of Brazil, largest of the South American Republics, has also a greater area than the United States without Alaska, and is more than three-fourths the size of all Europe. It cannot therefore be considered as a whole so easily as the other Republics. It is essential to differentiate between the various regions and States; for the dissimilarity is not confined to climate and productions; or to the character of the people, by reason of some being indigenous and others of European descent. It arises in part from the long coast line and the difficulty of land communication; in part from the fact that in some districts the population is almost entirely of European descent while in others there is a large percentage of negro blood; as well as from differences in physical and climatic conditions. Thus the Capital is not so markedly the centre of the Republic as in Argentina, and the States are more loosely bound together than in the other Republics. The States and the character of the people may be said to differ as much among themselves as the countries of the West Coast from each other, a point of importance to notice in commercial relations.

Area, Population, Boundary

Area. Brazil covers a surface of 3,112,453 square miles. Its length, 2750 miles, is about that of Chile; its extreme width, 2560 miles, is ten times at great. The coast-line is much longer, 4140 miles. A considerable portion of this immense area is still but superficially explored.

Population. According to the cabled report of the census of 1920, Brazil has 30,553,509 inhabitants. Its population, therefore, exceeds that of any other South American Republic even more largely than its area.

Boundary. The boundary of the country, though familiar from that of the others, may be rehearsed. On the north we find Colombia, Venezuela, and the three Guianas with the Atlantic beyond; on the east and southeast the Atlantic only, on the south Uruguay, a speck of Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, a bit of Peru; on the west a small corner of Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru. The only countries of the continent not touching its border are Ecuador and Chile. However, a few writers mention Ecuador on the west, as the southeast boundary line of that country is still undetermined.

History

The first of the South American countries to be discovered after Colombia and Venezuela, it was to the region of Brazil that the name America was first applied. It is therefore especially unbecoming for us to appropriate to ourselves in any exclusive sense the title of Americans; though having no other name, with apologies to the others, it may be pardonable for us to employ it when necessary.

In the year 1500 the first landing on this part of the continent was made by Pedro Alvares Cabral, then on his way from Portugal to the West Indies. In commemoration of that event, May 3rd is a Brazilian national holiday and the date of the assembling of Congress. As soon as the news was received in the home country, an expedition was sent out under Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the coast from its eastern extremity almost to La Plata, nearly 2000 miles. Fifteen Captaincies, each 150 miles along the coast, were later allotted and settlements were begun. The earliest of these which rose to importance were São Vicente in the neighborhood of Santos, and Pernambuco; a little later, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. These were the first agricultural colonies to be founded in South America, gold and silver being the attraction elsewhere. The French also had an eye to this country, making a settlement at Rio de Janeiro; the Dutch as well, who about a century later captured Bahia and Pernambuco; but both were ultimately expelled, the whole country remaining in the hands of the Portuguese. Conflicts with the Indians took place, at first with some who were unfriendly, and afterwards through attacks made by the invaders upon those Indians who had been christianized by the Jesuits. Their settlements were destroyed, 300,000 are said to have been slaughtered, and the rest were driven by the Paulistas from the region of the upper Paraná.

As Philip II of Spain in 1581 became ruler of Portugal, during the 60 years following, the expansion of Brazil to the west in territory which had been assigned to Spain was permitted, and such possession remained permanent. At other times conflicts occurred with the Spaniards at the south, but in 1777 peace was made with the boundaries as at present.

In 1807, Prince João, fleeing from Napoleon, came with his court to Brazil. He soon opened the five chief ports to commerce, he encouraged science, education, literature, art, and the immigration of foreigners, thus inaugurating a development of permanent value. On his return to Europe in 1821, the Prince, in view of the revolts of the Spanish colonies, hinted to his son whom he left in charge the advisability of himself assuming the crown, if a disposition towards independence became manifest. Accordingly in 1822, the son was crowned Emperor of Brazil; but having alienated his supporters, in 1831 he abdicated in favor of his infant son, Pedro. In 1889, the old Emperor, Dom Pedro II, who for many years had ruled wisely and well, was expelled on 24 hours’ notice; after a brief interim a Republic was established in 1891. Extravagance, insurrections, and financial distress followed, but since 1900 the country has made rapid advancement in wealth and in varied lines of development.

Government

The government is a federalized republic with the usual branches, the States more loosely bound together than with us, or than in any other South American Republic. They may even fix export taxes, and levy stamp duties. The President, with a Vice President, is elected for four years and is ineligible for a succeeding term. He has a Cabinet of seven Ministers. Congress is composed of a Senate with 63 members and a Chamber of 212 Deputies. There are 20 States, a Federal District, and the Territory of Acre. The last is composed of three Prefectures, with capital cities where government is administered by Government appointees. The States have their own administrative bodies, some with one house of legislation, some with two; and with a Governor or President as chief executive, a slight confusion possibly arising at times where the latter term is employed. All male citizens over 21 may vote except illiterates, soldiers, beggars, and members of monastic orders subject to vows of obedience, a wise prescription. The list of States precedes, with the usual figures, as accurate as obtainable, the areas from the latest Government survey. The list begins at the northwest, goes down the coast, and follows with the interior.

Population

The population, by the recent census 30,553,509, is of a more varied character than that of Uruguay and Argentina at the south. Some figures given are 52 per cent white, 26 mixed, 13 Indian, and 9 per cent negro. The original settlers were Portuguese, and at first immigration was from the mother country. In the early days many negroes were imported from Africa as slaves, yet there was little color prejudice so that the number of mulattoes and lighter as well as of negroes in some sections is very large.

During the last hundred years over 3,000,000 immigrants have arrived, of whom the Italians formed the larger proportion; next in number were the Portuguese, half as many Spaniards; those of other nationalities included 100,000 Germans, and a small colony from our Southern States, who left in disgust in 1867. The negroes, freed in 1888 and endowed with suffrage, were less qualified for it than in the United States. While some have made good advancement others have relapsed into a worse condition, being able in many parts of the country to exist on almost nothing. Indolence is a failing among many of all complexions, as is natural in tropical regions; on the other hand many Brazilians even in the warmer sections are characterized by great activity and industry. In the large cities culture and elegance are noticeable and aristocracy of birth is cherished. In some regions the inhabitants are less pretentious, live more simply, and practise the homely virtues; the most primitive section according to Oakenfull is between the São Francisco River and Maranhão. Women in general are more secluded than in some of the other Republics. The Brazilians have much literary and artistic taste and as a rule are punctilious in courtesy, though exceptions may be noted.

Education

Education is highly regarded in Brazil. Primary and secondary are free and secular, generally provided by the States and Municipalities. The Federal Government administers several Professional Schools as of Medicine, Law, Engineering, etc., and many of Agriculture in various parts of the country. With some of these, local schools are affiliated, as Schools of Law, of Applied Science, at Rio of Social Science, at Recife Engineering, etc. The different States spend 4-21 per cent of their revenue on primary education, averaging above ten. The Federal District spends 28 per cent. There are also private schools in different cities, several English or American; the American Mackenzie College at São Paulo is affiliated with the University of the State of New York.

Press, Religion, etc.

The Press is influential and of high quality, the leading papers of Rio, São Paulo, and other cities comparing well with those of cities of corresponding size in other parts of the world.

Religion. In Brazil there is entire separation of Church and State and absolute religious freedom. Civil marriage alone is recognized.

Post and Telegraph. Brazil has 3700 Post Offices.

Telegraph wires (over 26,000 miles) are in part national; other lines belong to the railways; there are submarine cables, and one up the Amazon. Wireless stations have been installed at many points on the coast and in the interior, including the Amazon district, as at Manaos and beyond. Telephones are to be found in all cities of any considerable size, about 80 systems.

Money is more complicated and bothersome than in any of the other countries, the unit being of 1000 instead of 100 parts, as is usual. Thus the milreis, written 1$000, equals 1000 reis as the name indicates. The milreis of gold is equal to 54.6 cents, but exchange varies, and the paper in common use varies from its ordinary value, 33.3 cents, to half that or even less in disturbed conditions. A conto of reis, a term often used, is 1000 milreis, and is written with a colon, thus: 5 contos, 20 milreis, and 300 reis would be written 5:20$300.

The Metric System is legal and compulsory, but in some places, the old Portuguese measures persist; these differ from the Spanish. A vara in Peru is less than a yard, but in Brazil it is 1.111 metre, or 1.215 yard. A libra is 4.695 kilos; an alquiere varies from 24 to 160 litres. Other variety exists in the same or in different places.