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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
This work makes no pretentions to literary merit, but, as its title indicates, is simply a narrative descriptive of the progress of the countries specially referred to, which, though England has long maintained intimate commercial relations with them, are still but very imperfectly known to the British public. In the Old World generations follow each other without any very perceptible alteration being observable in the characteristic surroundings, but in the New World, as America is still termed
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THE VOYAGE OUT.
THE VOYAGE OUT.
A beaten track does not present the same novelty as a fresh one, except in the case of countries in what is still termed the New World, and which are again about to be described. It was in 1853 I last visited Brazil and the River Plate, and published my observations upon them. An interval of fifteen years has wrought many changes and produced wonderful progress there, and if the Southern portion of the American Continent has not kept pace with the Northern it may be chiefly ascribed to the conti
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THE CITY OF MONTE VIDEO.
THE CITY OF MONTE VIDEO.
Seeing the accounts at Rio were not encouraging, I was advised to delay my trip southward, but as the River Plate was my ultimate destination, and my business pressing, I was desirous to reach Buenos Ayres as quickly as possible, taking Rio Janeiro on my return. So I continued on board the steamer, which left Rio on Sunday morning, the 12th January, 1868, and we came to anchor in Monte Video harbour at 1 p.m. on the 16th—a very good passage of four days and a few hours. The weather had been hot
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THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO.
THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO.
It cannot be said in this case, as in most others, that for the nearer you approach this far-famed city, the more sensible are you to the beauties it unfolds. Strangers are always struck with the singularly picturesque appearance of the land approaching Rio de Janeiro, but once fairly in the bay they are bewildered at its great extent, surrounded on all sides by hills and mountains of every possible form, shape, and size, most of them clothed in luxuriant verdure to the summit. No picture or rep
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THE WAR IN PARAGUAY.
THE WAR IN PARAGUAY.
Leaving for the moment the narrative form, I devote a chapter to this lamentable struggle, which has entailed such serious consequences on Brazil, and which at the time I am writing is yet undetermined. Writers have differed much as to the origin of the war, but none have shown how it could have been avoided. I may observe en passant that so far from having entertained any prejudices against Paraguay, my sympathies have always been in favour of that country as evinced during my visit to the Rive
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THE PROVINCE OF SAN PAULO.
THE PROVINCE OF SAN PAULO.
Availing of an opportunity to accompany a friend to this province, we left Rio on Tuesday, the 18th of February, on board the steamer Ptolemy, with a remarkably smooth sea, and a light, but cool breeze. We reached Santos early the following morning. The steamer was at once moored alongside an iron wharf, facing the Custom House, and Mr. Miller, one of the railway officials, came on board with the unpleasant information that the railway was stopped, owing to the heavy rains, which appeared to hav
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THE SAN PAULO RAILWAY.
THE SAN PAULO RAILWAY.
I will now proceed to describe the railway in my own terms, without reference to the statistics or the reports that have been published about it. My impression on leaving the station was that of setting off on an adventurous journey—not merely ensconcing oneself in the corner of a railway carriage and taking a comfortable nap. Curiosity was excited to the utmost, after the accounts I had heard, and the temporary stoppage of the line by recent heavy rains washing down some of the slopes of the cu
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THE CITY OF SAN PAULO.
THE CITY OF SAN PAULO.
If it appears a long time in reaching here after passing the wonders of the Serra, I was not disappointed either in the first peep at the city or by a more intimate acquaintance with it. One cannot help marvelling how the adventurous handful of men who originally penetrated the forests and founded these cities in South America had the courage and perseverance to do so; but I believe they availed, in many cases, of the Indian tracks, and doubtless of Indian assistance occasionally. The city has r
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SAN PAULO TO SANTOS AND RIO DE JANEIRO.
SAN PAULO TO SANTOS AND RIO DE JANEIRO.
We finally left San Paulo after a very agreeable visit, on the 25th of March, by the 9.30 train for Santos, with a tolerable number of passengers, and some friends who kindly accompanied us on our journey. Between San Paulo and San Bernardo station, a distance of about ten miles, the road is tolerably level, and the country more or less open, though uncultivated save in small plots. At this station I got upon the engine with Mr. Fox, and came upon sharp curves and many cuttings until we reached
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TRIP TO JUIZ DE FORA.—THE DOM PEDRO SEGUNDO RAILWAY.
TRIP TO JUIZ DE FORA.—THE DOM PEDRO SEGUNDO RAILWAY.
To estimate the resources of a country with such an enormous extent of territory as Brazil by the quantity of cotton, sugar, coffee, or other products she actually exports, or by the extent of the towns and cities on her seaboard, would be to form a very inadequate idea of what those resources are capable of becoming by means of imported labour, the extension of railways, and other transport facilities in the shape of good roads. Even with the present limited population, railways are calculated
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SECOND TRIP.
SECOND TRIP.
On my return to Rio on Saturday, the 11th of April I found the City of Brussels had arrived after a very quick passage from Falmouth of twenty days, and she was leaving next morning (Sunday) for the River; so I resolved to go by her and complete my visit, which had been so recently unfortunately interrupted. A difficulty occurred, owing to the police requiring me to give three days' notice in the public papers of my intention to leave, and they refused to visa the passport I brought with me, tho
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CITY OF BUENOS AYRES.
CITY OF BUENOS AYRES.
It is not an easy task to describe the great changes that have taken place in this city since my visit fourteen years ago. At the same time they are so remarkable as to require a special notice. My views at that time were sanguine as to the progress of these River Plate countries, but they have been more than realised, notwithstanding political and other drawbacks. Suffice it to say that Buenos Ayres has nearly doubled in size since I was last here, and, although no public census that I am aware
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BUENOS AYRES TO COLONIA.—ESTANZUELLA.
BUENOS AYRES TO COLONIA.—ESTANZUELLA.
The invitation of Mr. William White to spend a few days at his estancia took me over to Colonia, from which it is distant about 15 miles, amidst the beautiful undulating country of the Banda Oriental. Three to four hours is the time usually occupied in crossing the river, almost in a direct line from Buenos Ayres, and the steamer in which I embarked had very comfortable accommodation but few passengers on board. There was a small boat in opposition to the one I was in, and we arrived very close
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TRIP ON THE CENTRAL ARGENTINE RAILWAY.
TRIP ON THE CENTRAL ARGENTINE RAILWAY.
I am writing this on board the “Lujan” steamer, built in Buenos Ayres, with engines by a Glasgow house. She is a comfortable boat, with good accommodation for passengers, and the “vivers” excellent, including even champagne at dinner, which in this country is rather an expensive luxury. After a lapse of fifteen years I find myself once more ascending the noble Parana river, which at that time was almost unknown in Buenos Ayres, the little “Argentine” being the first commercial steamer that ever
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THE WESTERN RAILWAY OF BUENOS AYRES.
THE WESTERN RAILWAY OF BUENOS AYRES.
I had a very pleasant excursion over the Western Railway as far as Mercedes, in company with some friends. Mr. Emilio Castro, Government Superintendent of the railways in the province of Buenos Ayres, to the Government of which this line belongs, accompanied us, and he kindly provided a very luxurious saloon carriage for the occasion. We left the Parque station at 8 a.m., going over some curves of a formidable nature, and along streets until we came to the company's goods station and workshops.
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BUENOS AYRES.—SECOND NOTICE.
BUENOS AYRES.—SECOND NOTICE.
The more I look over this great city the more I am struck with its increase, as well as the luxury by which it has been attended, evinced in the style of building and in the large private establishments, some of which are really on a princely scale. Speaking of public buildings, I do not much admire the opera house, called the Colon—it is badly formed and the decorations are too heavy. The gas-lights are ugly, being plain jets instead of small gas chandeliers. They give a very common-place look
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PROGRESS OF STEAM NAVIGATION ON LA PLATA.
PROGRESS OF STEAM NAVIGATION ON LA PLATA.
If there is one subject more than another on which I am entitled to express an opinion it is that of steam navigation on the great South American rivers, and especially as regards the fluvial waters of the La Plata. In my book, published in 1854, pages 314 to 316, occur the following remarks:— These are sentiments, however, which the reader may naturally think are not very pertinent to a purpose like the present, and not exactly in keeping with an occasion expressly connected with the commercial
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RAILWAYS IN THE RIVER PLATE.
RAILWAYS IN THE RIVER PLATE.
There are two classes of railways in the Argentine Confederation, inaugurated by Provincial and the National Governments respectively. I will begin with the Province of Buenos Ayres, as the railroad system has there acquired the greatest development. The first line established was the Western, which has now reached the town of Chivilcoy, a distance of 100 miles from the city, and it is proposed to effect a further extension to the frontier fort of Melincue. I need not repeat here the details alr
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EMIGRATION TO BRAZIL.
EMIGRATION TO BRAZIL.
Both the Government and the people of Brazil feel the necessity and the value of promoting immigration to the fullest extent. Experiments have been tried, and small colonies of Europeans founded in some of the southern provinces, all of which have been more or less successful. In my account of the Province of San Paulo I have alluded to the settlement of Germans on the coffee plantations of Senhor Vergueiro, and to the desire of other large owners of property to follow his example. I also instan
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EMIGRATION TO THE RIVER PLATE.
EMIGRATION TO THE RIVER PLATE.
No country in South America is more favourably placed, or presents a greater field for European labour than the River Plate, notwithstanding the drawbacks which have to some extent retarded its progress and injured its character. It has an advantage over Brazil in the absence of slavery, and is of a milder climate, though it is very hot during the summer months, as I experienced when at Monte Video, in January last, at which time the cholera was at its height. A friend, who has resided in Buenos
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D. PEDRO II. RAILWAY.
D. PEDRO II. RAILWAY.
With the Macacos branch the length of this railway is 203 kilometres, 56.6 kilometres having been added during last year in its prolongations towards the station of Entre Rios. Failing to come to an agreement with the Companhia Mineira for the extension to Porto Novo da Cunha, an offer was made by the Companhia Uniao e Industria to construct a cart road to that point, the final offer of this Company being to make it gratuitously if certain favours were conceded to it. However, its offers were de
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BAHIA RAILWAY.
BAHIA RAILWAY.
The shareholders of this railway continue to suffer the consequences produced by the excess of expenses over receipts. Last year's balance showed an increase of 12:867$764 in receipts, and of 24:383$445 in expenses, giving a deficit of 218:630$092, more by 11:515$681 than the preceding year's. This result is no doubt disheartening, but meantime I await the report of the commission I authorised the President of the province to appoint, whose investigations must have revealed the latent causes of
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PERNAMBUCO RAILWAY.
PERNAMBUCO RAILWAY.
Notwithstanding the elements of prosperity which the company already counts on, and those which the future reserves for it, its financial position is not at present satisfactory, nor have its shares been able to obtain in London quotations worthy of the destinies awaiting it. To such result that false position has contributed, besides other things, in which the company has been placed by the various operations through which the company sought to obtain its capital. As you know, part of this capi
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SANTOS AND JUNDIAHY RAILWAY.
SANTOS AND JUNDIAHY RAILWAY.
This line was inaugurated on the 15th, and opened on the 16th of February, 1866: this road at once commenced to show an extensive traffic, which, augmenting day by day as the planters became convinced of its superiority over ordinary methods, prognosticates most brilliant destinies to it. However, notwithstanding its evident inferiority, the common road still maintains a serious competition with the railway and takes from it a part of the products which are sent to Santos from the interior, inas
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COMMERCE OF BRAZIL AND THE RIVER PLATE.
COMMERCE OF BRAZIL AND THE RIVER PLATE.
During the unfruitful dominion of Spain and Portugal, commerce with South America was limited to the exchange of commodities between the mother countries and the populations planted in the New World revealed to Europe by the daring genius of the great Genoese navigator and those bold spirits who after him traversed and explored strange oceans and seas unknown. The Courts of Madrid and Lisbon adopted the most stringent measures for the preservation of their monopoly and to prevent commercial inte
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THE RIVER AMAZON.
THE RIVER AMAZON.
As it has not been my good fortune to visit this mighty stream, I cannot, of course, speak of it from personal experience, but the Amazon is exciting so much attention in various parts of the world in consequence of the late voyage of Professor Agassiz that a brief notice may not be out of place here. Most persons have read Mr. Bates' very interesting work, “The Naturalist on the Amazon,” in which he has described in so graphic a manner the wonders of that country in the shape of animal and vege
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TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION.
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION.
The North American Continent has now for some time past been linked to Europe by the electric wire, inaugurating what may almost be termed a new era of civilisation; and the fact of laying the cable will live in history as long as the name of the leviathan ship through whose medium this great result was accomplished. South America has yet to depend solely upon steam communication, but doubtless the means of magnetic intercourse will soon be supplied. Already a rival company has been formed to la
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RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
Spain and Portugal as a matter of course introduced the Roman Catholic religion in their South American conquests. The aborigines, being imbued with a veneration for forms, or imagery of some kind, soon fell under the influence of the priesthood. Volumes have been written on the power and grandeur of the Jesuits, who were assuredly the pioneers of civilisation in South America, and they certainly accomplished what the sword could never have done. Papal and monarchial jealousy led to their expuls
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THE AFFLUENTS OF LA PLATA.
THE AFFLUENTS OF LA PLATA.
Here and there, in the progress of my work, I have casually referred to the Rio de la Plata and its affluents; but the fluvial system which they together constitute is certainly deserving of more than a merely cursory comment. I will, therefore, add to my remarks on the Amazon and its tributaries some more precise observations with respect to the numerous rivers which give access to the fertile regions of Paraguay and furnish the Argentine Confederation with an extensive littoral coast. The rive
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THE REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY.
THE REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY.
The long and sanguinary conflict which the despotic ruler of this country has been enabled, from various causes, to maintain against the allied arms of Brazil and the other Platine States has naturally excited considerable curiosity in Europe to know something of its past history, people, and form of government. In order to arrive at a correct judgment in respect of this singular people, and of their political and social condition, it is absolutely necessary to go back to the time when the Jesui
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BRAZILIAN CURRENCY.
BRAZILIAN CURRENCY.
Like most new countries achieving their independence and establishing constitutional government under circumstances of difficulty, internal and external, Brazil has been subject to vicissitudes in her monetary circulation, and has been affected by occasional aberrations from the great truths of economical science in the emission of paper money. The law of 1866 has, however, corrected the errors previously committed, and when the restoration of peace shall afford the present President of the Coun
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ARGENTINE FINANCES.
ARGENTINE FINANCES.
A notice of this extensive and rising country would be incomplete without some allusion to its financial condition, and in order to illustrate this more clearly I must revert to the year 1824, when the first loan of a million sterling was raised in London, to assist the young republic in meeting the expenses incurred during the War of Independence. That the money thus obtained was more or less squandered, and did not find its way into legitimate channels, is probable enough; nevertheless the lia
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TOWN AND HARBOUR OF SANTOS.
TOWN AND HARBOUR OF SANTOS.
Before recording the details of my passage home I wish to say a few words more with regard to the rising port of Santos, a notice of which has been accidentally omitted in a former part of my work. Its connection with the San Paulo Railway and the fact of its being the shipping port of the province renders Santos of much future importance. The distance from Rio de Janeiro is about 200 miles, and the navigation is simple enough—in fact, in sight of land the whole way, the sea coast ridge of mount
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MR. PERKINS ON EMIGRATION.
MR. PERKINS ON EMIGRATION.
In the elaborate and interesting report of Mr. William Perkins, who was at the head of a recent Government expedition to El Rey, an old Spanish settlement in the Gran Chaco, occurs the following remarks:—“The northern part of the Province of Santa Fé is justly considered the most important, being so highly favoured by nature; and in truth the Creator has here scattered with a prodigal hand all the elements capable of attracting population and industry. For these reasons it saddens the heart to s
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MY VOYAGE HOME.
MY VOYAGE HOME.
My visit has been prolonged by unforeseen events, but I am on my way home again, on board the steamer City of Buenos Ayres, commanded by my old friend Captain Peters, also belonging to Tait's Line, which has experienced some of the incidents and drawbacks peculiar to the formation of new companies; but from the spirit manifested by that firm, there is every prospect of the enterprise proving a successful one. The rapid increase of passenger trade to the River Plate is a notable fact that has to
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POSSESSIONS AND PRODUCTS OF THE DIFFERENT PROVINCES OF BRAZIL.
POSSESSIONS AND PRODUCTS OF THE DIFFERENT PROVINCES OF BRAZIL.
S. Pedro do Rio Grande do Sul (situated between 27° 50´ and 33° 45´ S. latitude).—Possesses coal mines and other minerals; herva-matte, natural pasture grounds perfectly appropriate to the successful breeding of cattle, mules, horses, and sheep. Produces wheat, barley, potatoes, grapes, and all the fruits of temperate climates; cotton, and different grains of tropical climates. Santa Catharina (24° 53´ and 27° 50´ S. latitude).—Possesses coal mines and a great quantity of iron ores; timber, wood
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BRAZILIAN FINANCES.—LAW OF 1860.
BRAZILIAN FINANCES.—LAW OF 1860.
The following are the chief leading provisions of this law, which may be called the Banking Law of Brazil:— 1st. To limit the issues of independent banks to the average of the first six months of 1860 during the suspension of cash payments. 2nd. To limit the issues of the Bank of Brazil and its branches to double its unengaged funds, the Government being empowered to grant their issue to be raised to three times the value of the said disengaged funds, but this only in case they do not exceed the
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WORKSHOPS OF THE WESTERN RAILWAY OF BUENOS AYRES.
WORKSHOPS OF THE WESTERN RAILWAY OF BUENOS AYRES.
Buenos Ayres has at last thrown off the mantle of dignified idleness in which she has been so long enveloped, and is taking her place amongst the leading nations of the earth. The days are past when every article for social comfort or consumption had to be imported from abroad. We are creeping along in the right path at last, and Governor Alsina and Emilio Castro are head workmen of Buenos Ayres. They are creating mechanical power in this country, calculated at no very distant date to develop th
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SANITARY CHARACTER OF THE ANDINE HEIGHTS.
SANITARY CHARACTER OF THE ANDINE HEIGHTS.
We have made the following extracts from an article published in the “Revista de Buenos Ayres,” on the climates of the Andine Heights, and mountains of Cordova, written by Dr. Scrivener, who has himself resided for many years in those countries. The “Revista de Buenos Ayres” is a most valuable publication, and those who are interested in South America will find much reliable information in it. It contains many curious articles on the history and literature of the country. It has now reached its
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BUENOS AYRES AND THE OTHER PROVINCES A FIELD FOR EUROPEAN IMMIGRATION.
BUENOS AYRES AND THE OTHER PROVINCES A FIELD FOR EUROPEAN IMMIGRATION.
The following interesting and reliable statement has been published and circulated under the authority of the Argentine Government:— The recommendations of the Argentine Republic to Europeans are:— 1. That the climate is as healthy and as favourable to vigour and longevity as that of England, or any other country of Europe. 2. That its cultivable lands are practically of unlimited extent, and require no outlay for clearing. 3. That it contains already, and especially at Buenos Ayres, the Capital
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Protection of Immigrants.
Protection of Immigrants.
An influential Commission, of which Senor Don M. J. Azcuenaga is President, is formed at Buenos Ayres to assist Immigrants, by whom the following Notice is issued. Similar care is exercised at the Port of Rosario :— This Committee gives notice to Immigrants who arrive at this port that whaleboats have been engaged by the same to bring them on shore and that a commodious “Asylum” is prepared for them, where they will find lodging and food during the first eight days after their arrival, all grati
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STEAM NAVIGATION ON THE RIVER PLATE.
STEAM NAVIGATION ON THE RIVER PLATE.
I have been disappointed in getting a statement of the up-river traffic in passengers and merchandise, both of which have assumed very large dimensions; but the following list of steam agents at Buenos Ayres, and the steamers employed, will give some idea of what is doing in this way, as well as the increase that may be looked for when the war in Paraguay is over:— Matti and Piera (the leading agents, with a large fleet of steamers.)—The steamer Rio Negro, weekly, for Salto and ports; the steame
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